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Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  canadien  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The 
to  t 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 

D 

n 

n 

□ 

D 
D 
□ 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 

Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagee 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^e  et/ou  pellicul6e 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli^  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de  i'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int^rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  film^es. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl^mentaires; 


L'lnstitut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-etre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m6thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu^s  ci-dessous. 


□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 


n 
□ 
n 

n 
□ 


Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag^es 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pelliculees 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d^color^es,  tachetSes  ou  piquees 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  detach^es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualite  inegale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  mp':6riel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t(b  film^es  cl  nouveau  de  facon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


Thd 
pos 
oft 
film 


Orij 
beg 
the 
sioi 
oth 
firs 
sior 
or  i 


The 
shB 
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whi 

Ma 
diff 
ent 
beg 
righ 
req 
me 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

/ 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


ails 

du 

difier 

une 

lage 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

D.  B.  Weldon  Library 
University  of  Western  Ontario 

Thd  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibifity 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


L'exemplaire  filmd  fut  reproduit  grSce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

D.  B.  Weldon  Library 
University  of  Western  Ontario 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim^e  sont  film^s  en  commengant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  compofte  une  empreinte 
d  impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmds  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shpll  contain  the  symbol  —♦-(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END '), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  )e 
cas:  le  symbole  —^-  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  etre 
filmds  ci  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  etre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  film6  d  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n^cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


rata 
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WoMANs  Life-work. 


LABORS  AND  EXPERIENCES 


av 


Laura  S.  Haviland 


CINClNNATr- 
PRINTED  BY   WALDEN  *  STOWE 

'OR    THE    AUTHOR 
I881. 


Copyright  by 
LAURA  S.   HAVILAND, 
18S1. 


41?  c 


DEDICATION. 


^^^  *°"'' »•"' ■^'""  f  i'-Sfeto,  m,Mamili„; 


Also    10     THE 


^nmp  anf,  l^iorpio„  .ATissionnny  Society, 


ARE   THESE    PAGES   DEDICATED. 


(Ktt  author. 


PEEFAOE. 


Tx  presenting  the  following  pages  to  tlio  puMIo, 
without  the  truce  of  an  excellent  scholar  or  eUxjucnt 
orator,  I  fully  realize   my  inability  to  compete  ^vidi 
writers  of  the  nineteenth  century.     ^Vith  tiiis  inc(.m- 
peteney  in  view,  I  have  hesitated  and  delayed  until 
three-score  and   thirteen  years   are  closing  over  me. 
Yet  as  I  am  still  spared  to  toil  on  a  little  longer  in 
the  great  field  so  white  to  harvest,  praying  the  Lord 
of  the  harvest  to  arm  and  send  forth  more  laborers, 
because  they  are  too  few,  I  ask  an  indulgvnt  public 
to   allow    my   deep   and   abiding   sympathies   for  the 
oppressed   and   sorrowing   of   every   nation,  class,  or 
color,  to  plead  my  excuse   for  sending   forth  simple, 
unvarnished  facts  and  experiences,  hoping  thev  may 
increase   an  aspiration   for  the  active  doing,  instead 
of  saying  what  ought  to  be  done,  with  excusing  self 
for   want   of  ability,  when  it  is  to  be  found  in  Him 
who   is  saying,  "My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee,  for 
my  strength  is  perfect  in  M'caknoss." 

LAUllA  S.  HAYILAND. 

OCTOBEU,    1881. 


CONTENTS. 


CIIAITKK  I. 

KA  It  1.  Y    1,  I  K  v.. 

Parontn^o  —  Early   Inipri'ssiidis  —  (""liiMlinod   SkcpticiMm  — 

IJcli^ioiis  Ivxiit'iifncf-TlH'  Gri'at  Lcvclcr     Maniaiii'  — Kt' val 

to  Mi(lii<,'aii  Tli(>  Sriiii-Cliiistiaii  -  Tho  DfspairiiiL,'  Uackslidcr 
Kcstored  —  Proscription —Witlulniwal  fn;m  the  Socit-'ty  of 
Friends— Founded  "  Raisin  Institute," Page  !> 

CHAPTKR  II. 

BEItEAV  EM  E  NTS. 

Proam  —  Bereavements  —  Early  Widowhood  —  Trials  — 
Dreams — Victory  by  Faith — A  Fugitive  Slave  Escapes — Ahir- 
riage  of  two  Older  Children, ;]8 

CHAPTER  III. 

ANTI-SI.AVERY   EXPERIENCES. 

Baptist  Deacon  Convicted  of  the  Sin  of  Slavery  l>y  his 
Slave— Willis  Hamilton's  Escape  with  his  Slave-wife,  Elsie,  to 
Canuila — Removal  to  ^lichigan — Whereabouts  Disoovere<l  by 
Elsie's  Master — Deeply  Laid  Scheme  to  Capture  the  Hamilton 
Family— Threats  of  Violence— Second  Attempt  and  Defeat — 
Death  of  the  two  Slave-holders, 55 

CHAPTER  IV. 

AN  OHIO   SrilOOI.-TEAtllEH. 

A  Traveling  Agent  —  Slave  Claimant  —  John  White  — 
Threats — Visit  to  Jane  White — Interview  with  William  Allen — 
Escape  of  Slaves — In  Suspense — Death  of  First-born — Comfort- 
ing Dream — John  AVhite  a  Prisoner — His  Release  and  Subse- 
quent History, 91 


/ 


4  CONTEXTS. 

CIIAPTJCR  V. 

THE   UNDKKGllorXlJ   KAILWAY. 

Two  Slave  Families  Iv-'iipe — Story  of  George  and  James — 
A  Mother  and  Daugliter  Leave  a  !5oat  l)oun(l  for  the  I/jwer 
Market— Sarah  and  two  Young  Men  join  our  Party — Seven  arc 
('i)iuhicted  to  Canada — lliiisin  Institut*-  Sus{)ended  for  an  Aca- 
demic Year — Return  to  Cincinnati  —  Maria  —  Tiireats  of  her 
^Master — Tlie  Escape  of  two  Young  Men, Page  111 

CHAPTER  VI. 

FUGITIVH   SLAVKS   ASSIt^TED. 

Clara  and  Three  Children  Rescued— Jack  Betrayed  and 
Returned  to  Rondage— A  Little  Nurse  Cirl  taken  fmni  her 
Owners  in  Cincinnati  -How  Zack  was  Saved  —Calvin  Eairbaid<s 
Visited  in  Prison — Fugitive  Slaves  Forwarded, lo3 

CHAPTEPt  VH. 

ClIKISTIAN   AXn    EDrCATIONAI,   WORK. 

Visiting  and  Nursing  the  Sick— Nine  Slaves  Arrive  from 
Ki'Utucky  -Richard  Dillingham  Hies  in  Tennivssee  Peniten- 
tiary—Seven Slaves  Conducted  to  Freedom — Teach  Six  Months 
in  Toledo, 102 

CHAPTER  Vin. 

Fr(iITIVES   IX   CAXADA. 

Mission  Among  the  Fugitives  in  Canada  —  Religious  Re- 
vival— Organization  of  a  Christian  Union  Church — Efforts  of 
INIissourians  to  Retake  the  Fugitive  Slave,  William  Anderson, 
from  Canada — The  Kentucky  Slave-owner  Whipped  in  the 
Old  Rarracks  in  AVindsor  in  his  Effort  to  Decoy  Three  Young 
Men  back  to  Slavery — Reopetiing  School, 192 

CHAPTER  IX. 

RKSCTE     or     SLAVES. 

Escape  of  a  Slav(>  I^amily  of  Six— A  Slave  Alan  Travels  fur 
a  White  Man  and  Succeeds  Tri[)  to  Arkansas-  The  Story  of 
George  Wilson — The  Slave-daui:lit(>r  under  Mortgage  Released 
by  her  Mother Mintie  IJerry  Purchases  her  Husband — Jolin 
Brown  Hange(l  -  The  War  Opens  and  takes  Seventeen  Students 
of  Raisin  Institute— First  Trip  to  the  Front  witii  Supidies,  .  211 


CONTENTS. 


5 


CHAPTER  X. 


HOSPITAL     WOKK, 


Civiro  —  Incidents  Propanitory  to  Romoving  Froeduion's 
Camp  to  Island  No.  10--L)(;atli  of  a  Child— Disbursin;,'  Sup- 
j)lii's  ami  (itluT  Mission  Work  on  tlu'  Island — Story  of  Uncle 
Stephi-n  Hospital  Visiting  in  Memphis,  Tunncssee— Surgeon 
Powers  Reporte<l — Forty  Slaves  come  into  Camp  Shiloh — Seven 
Slaves  c(jme  from  a  Plantation  seven  miles  below  Memphis — 
First  Kidisliuent  of  Coloretl  Soldiers — ^Mission  Work  in  Colum- 
bus, Kentueky — Young  Colored  Man  Shot  by  his  Young  Mas- 
ter-Turning of  Tables — Return  Ilcjme— Our  Principal,  K.  A. 
Ilaight,  Enlisted, Page  245 

CHAPTER  XI. 


iths 
1()2 


192 


or 

of 
e.l 
in 
lis 
11 


.S  A  N  I   r  A  K  Y      W  O  K  K  . 

Organized  Free<lmen*s  Relief  Association — Solicit  Supplies — 
Academi(!  Year  Ojjcned  for  18();)-4 — Sister  Backus  and  Self  leave 
for  Fields  of  SulTering — Incidi'nts  on  the  Way-  ^Mission  Work  in 
Natchez,  ^Vrississippi— Four  Hundred  Slaves  Hanged  ami  other- 
wise Tortured— \'isit  to  the  Calaboose-Mission  Woik  in  P>aton 
Rouge— Arrival  at  New  Orleans — Sketch  of  I'ensecutions,  .    271) 

CHAPTER  XII. 

MISSION    WOKK    IN    XKW    OHLKANS. 

^lission  Work  in  New  Orleans — Soldiers  and  Prisoners  Vis- 
ited on  Ship  Island — Petition  of  Seventy  Soldier  Prisoni'rs  in 
behalf  of  Three  Thousand  of  their  Fellow  Pris(jiiers --A])peal  in 
beiialf  of  Ship  Island  and  Tortugas  Prisoners — Mission  Work  at 
Pla(]UtMiiine — Natchez  -C'ajiture  of  a  Rebel  steamer — Arrival  at 
Home— Release  of  the  Three  Thousand  Banished  Union  Sol- 
diers,     320 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

fukkdmen's  aid  commission. 

Refugees  in  Kansas — Children  of  Want — Afliicted  Family — 
Scenes  of  Histress — Agnes  Everett —(Juantrell's  Raid  —  Poor 
White  Trash— Hospitals —Su]i])lies  Distributed — Refugee  Builil- 
iiiL's  -Orphan  Chililri'U  —  Haviland  Home  Thomas  l)ean  a 
l'ii>oner  Petition  for  Pardcni — Pardon  (!rante(I — A  Southern 
Clergyman- -Mission  School — At  Harper's  Ferry  and  Wash- 
ington,   ,".(;0 


6 


CONTEXTS. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

HOME    MISSION     WOKK. 

Mission  Work  tind  Incidouts  in  "Wusliington — ^Mnrdors — 
Alexandria — Iliclnnond,  Vir/jiniii — Williamsburg — Fort  Miigni- 
der  — Yorktown — Suicidu — ( iloucostcr  Conrt-liousc  —  Forf rosa 
jMonroo  —  Xorfolk  —  llcturn  lo  AVashington — White  Wonian 
Whipped, Page  387 

CHAPTER  XV. 

EXI'ElilKNCES   AMONG   TKEEDMEN. 

A  Soldier  Prisoner— Interesting  Statistics — Schools — Plaii- 
tations — Incidents — Return  to  Washington — Return  Homo  ■\\iUi 
F  fteen  Orphans  and  Fifty  Laborers  —  Cluinge  in  Orphan 
Asylum — Mission  Work  in  Covington  and  Xewpcjrt,  Kentucky — 
I\Iission  Work  in  Memphis,  Tennessee — Uncle  Pliilii)  a  Remark- 
able Man — Return  Homo, 425 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

STATE    I'LIJLIO   SCHOOL. 

Board  of  Directors  Arrange  for  Closing  the  Homo — Dis- 
couragements —  Relief  Comes  by  Sleigh-loads  —  Enccjurage- 
nients — Petitions  to  the  State  Legislature  to  make  the  Home  a 
State  Institution — Petitions  Granted,  and  the  Orphan's  Homo 
becomes  the  "State  Public  School,"  located  at  Coldwater — 
AVork  in  State  Public  School, 450 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

CHRISTIAN    LAIJOU   AXO   KESULTS. 

Work  for  the  Asylum — Again  in  Washington  —  INFission 
Work — Trial  of  Henry  Wirtz — Inspecting  Soup-houses-  Inci- 
dents connected  with  Kendal  Cireen  Camp — Peremi)tory  Order 
of  J.  II.  Sliipherd  Closing  Asylum — Children  Scattered — Re- 
turned Home  with  Authority  from  American  Missionary  Asso- 
ciation to  R(Mip(M-i  Asylum —  Dangerous  Fall  —  Restored  to 
Asylum  Work — Overtaken  with  Convulsions— Answer  to  Prayer 
hi  being  Restored, 455 

CHAPTER  XVIIT. 

rUESENT  CONDITION   OF  THE   FKEEDMEN. 

Kansas  Frcedmen's  Tielief  Association — Testimony  of  Periy 
Bradlev  —  Incidents —  Persecutions  —  Prof.    Cireener —  Colored 


roXTPLNTS. 


R..'l"il>licans  — Furtlier  lY-stimony  —  Negro  Woman  Kilknl  — 
LvUvr  from  the  Soutli— Atrocities— Kefugeos  in  Kansas— lUill- 
<losing— Kansas  Overfull-Protection  Xeeded— 3Iichael  WalsJi— 
.Silver  Linings, Page'^4S2 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

PJtOSi'KCTS   OF    TIIK    FliKKDMKN. 

Sai,plies  Furnished-Relief  Association  at  Work-Xorthern 
Outrages-Prudence  Crandall- Colored  Schools-FnTduien's 
Aid  bchools— Industrial  and  Agricultural  Institute    ...    500 


ILLUiSTEATIONS. 


STKKLPoKTKAIT.,FTiIEAlTiIoK, Frontispiej.'''''' 

Tjik  Si. AVKiioi. dicks'  Tjrui-:\Ts 

^'-\^'-  •f''">^^ o,,2 

Ci.AKK  T'.MVKKsnv  F..1:  Fkkkdmk.v  (Chkism.nn    IIam.j,    .    .434 
.^rKUAuuv  Mkujcai.  Cojxkok, '  -'lo 


LIFE-WORK 


or 


LAURA  S.  IIAVILAND. 


Chapter 

KAKLV  LIFI': 


I 


At  the  earnest  solicihitioii  of  iiiaiiy  dear  friends  I  liave 
consenti'd  t<»  leave  on  record  some  of  the  incidents  tliat 
have  fallen  under  my  personal  ohservation  during  thret'- 
score  and  ten  years. 

yiv  father,  Daniid  Rmith,  was  a  native  of  Eastern  New 
York,  and  for  many  years  an  approved  niinisti'r  in  the 
Society  of  Friends.  He  was  a  man  of  ability  and  iuflu- 
enee,  of  clear  perceptions,  and  strong  reasoning  pitwcM's. 

^Fy  mother,  Sene  Ulaneher,  was  from  \'ermont;  v>as  of 
a  gentler  turn,  and  of  a  quiet  spirit,  benevolent  and  kind 
to  all,  and  much  Ixdoved  by  all  who  knew  her,  and  wa.s 
for  many  years  an  elder  in  the  same  Society. 

It  is  due  to  my  parents  to  say,  if  I  have  been  instru- 
mental, through  the  grace  of  God,  to  bless  his  poor  and 
lowly  of  earth,  by  adapting  means  to  ends  in  relieving  suf- 
fering humanity,  it  is  largely  owir.g  to  their  influence. 

Soou  after  their  marriage,  th(>y  removed  to  Kitley 
Township,  county  of  Leeds,  Canada  West  Ot^'^v  known  as 
Ontario),  where  I  was  born,  Decemlter  2<),  ],S08.  I 
well  remember  the  perplexities  and  doubts  that  troubled 
my  young  mind  in  trying  to  tind  the  whys  and  wherefores 
of  existing  facts;  yet  I  was  naturally  a  hai)py  and  playfid 
child.     Some  remarks  made  by  my  parents  over  a  portion 


10 


A   WOMA^  .S    MFK-WOKK. 


W^^-'-- 
'w^ 


of  Scripture  fhther  was  reading,  iu  which  wa.s  the  sen- 
tence, "  tmd  they  are  no  more  twain,  but  one  flesh" — 
"tliat  is  a  close  rehitionshi]) ;  twain  is  two,  no  more  two 
but  one  flesh" — struck  me  with  Avondcr  and  amazement. 
"Yes,"  rei)lied  motiier,  "that  is  a  oneness  that  is  not  to 
be  separated,  a  near  relation  between  husband  and  wife; 
'  no  more  twain,  but  one  flesh.'  'What  C»od  has  joined 
together  let  not  man  put  asunder.'  "  It  seemed  as  if  every 
■word  fastened  upon  my  mind  a  feeling  of  awe  at  the  new 
thought,  that  father  and  mutiier  were  one  ])erson.  "Then 
they  think  just  alike,  and  know  all  about  the  other,  if  true; 
father  and  mother  believe  it,  and  they  found  it  in  the 
Bible;  and  that,"  I  thought,  "must  l)e  true.  Now  fir  the 
test:  If  father  and  mother  are  one,  they  must  know  each 
other's  thoughts  and  whereabouts."  After  father  had  been 
out  a  few  minutes  I  asked  mother  where  lie  was.  "Not 
far  off;  may  be  he's  gone  to  the  barn."  But  he  was  not 
there.  At  my  report  she  said,  "lVrhai)s  he's  gone  to 
David  Coleman's,  or  some  of  the  neighbors."  This  setth'd 
the  matter  in  my  mind,  that  they  were  not  one.  iiut  I 
gave  the  same  test  to  try  father,  which  also  j)r()ved  a  fail- 
ure. But  Jiot  <|uite  satisfied  without  further  investigation, 
I  asked  mother  for  permission  to  go  to  David  Coleman's  to 
play  an  hoin-  with  his  little  girls.  I^ittle  did  .<!  e  know 
that  the  object  of  her  little  five-year-old  skeptio  was  to 
in'esent  the  test  to  their  father  and  mother,  to  see  whether 
they  were  one,  and  found  the  siiine  result  each  time. 

This  settled  the  question  in  my  mind  that  one  thing  in 
the  Bible  was  untrue.  Father  and  mother  were  mistaken 
in  that  part  of  the  Bible  that  said  husband  and  wife  were 


no  mor 


e  two,  but  one.     For  a  lony;  time  after  this,  wd 


len- 


ever  the  Bible  was  referred  to  as  authoritv,  I  would  think, 


<( 


"11  may  oe  true,  anci  nuiy  not,  oecanse  i  iriea  ojie  imng 

■'« 

it  said  that  was  not  true." 

iJB 

Another  mystery  was  hard  for  me  to  solve.     In  asking 

'^ 

mother  where  we   should  go  if   we  should  jump  off  the 

1 

KARLY   LIFE. 


11 


Itlnl 

Ult   I 

luil- 

tioii, 

I's  to 


ig  111 


Ling 
the 


etlgc  of  the  wnrhl,  she  replied,  "There  is  no  jumping  off 
phice,  beciui.se  our  world 


IS   rouiK 


1,  lik 


e  a 


bull, 


1   tnl< 


one  dtiy  and  night  to  roll  around,  and  that  makes  day  and 
night."  AtU'r  the  little  child  of  six  years  had  studied  over 
this  mysterious  ])rol)lcni  a  short  time,  she  returned  with  the 
query,  "  Why  do  n't  we  droj)  off  while  underside?  and  why 
(lon't  the  water  spill  out  oti'  Bates's  creek  and  our  well  ?"  She 
replied,  "Water,  as  well  as  every  thing  else,  is  always  kept 
in  place  by  a  great  law,  called  gravitation,  that  our  Heav- 
enly leather  made  when  he  made  the  world,"  and  she  said 
I  wituld  understand  more  about  it  when  older.  But  this 
did  not  satisfy  me;  I  wanted  to  know  all  about  it  then. 
As  soon  as  father  came  in  (picrics  were  repeated,  but  he 
closed  as  mother  did,  that  I  must  wait  until  I  was  older, 
which  made  me  almost  impatient  to  be  old  enough  to  know 
how  these  things  could  be. 

Another  subject  occupied  my  childish  mind  a  long  time, 
and  was  investigated  to  the  extent  of  the  miniature  ability 
I  possessed.  And  that  was  the  inteie.iting  fact  that  1  dis- 
covcreil  one  briirht  cveninir  Avhilc  looking  at  the  stars,  that 
our  house  was  just  in  the  middle  of  the  world;  and  when 
we  went  to  grandfather's  (a  distance  of  seven  miles),  as 
soon  as  it  was  night,  I  was  out  in  the  yard  measuring  the 
distance  by  stars,  but  to  my  surprise,  grandfather's  house 
was  just  in  the  noddle.  For  I  tried  it  all  around  tlie 
house,  and  went  to  the  barn  with  my  uncles,  and  could 
discover  no  variation.  Consequently  I  must  have  been 
mistaken  at  home.  But  on  our  return  I  could  not  find  by 
the  stars  but  that  we  Averc  just  in  the  center  of  creation. 
Whenever  I  went  with  my  })arents  to  a  neighbor's  for  an 
evening's  visit,  my  first  and  foremost  thought  was  to  sec 
how  far  to  one  side  they  were.  But  I  alwavs  found  my- 
self  just  in  the  center  of  this  great  world;  just  as  grown- 
up chihlreu  arc  i)rone  to  think  their  own  nation  is  ahead 
in  arts  and  sciences,  of  all  other  nations — their  own  State 
ahead  of  all  other  States  iu  moral  and  intellectual  improve- 


12 


A    woman's   LIFK-WOIIK. 


?  ; 


i'i  : 


mcnts — tlicir  own  town  or  city,  like  Boston,  the  **  hub  of 
the  univcr.sc."  In  fact,  u'c  are  about  the  center;  our  pets 
more  knowiu;^,  and  «)ur  chihb'cn  smarter,  than  can  ])e 
found  elsewhere.  But  as  the  study  of  astronomy  gives 
ability  to  look  upon  the  vast  universe  of  thousands  of 
worlds  much  larger  than  our  own,  revolving  in  their  orbits, 
it  develops  our  intellectual  faculties,  and  enables  us  to  view 
the  concave  ajjpearance  of  the  ethereal  blue  from  a  stand- 
point widely  dillering  from  the  occu])ancy  of  the  center. 
And  when  supnnne  self  is  melted  away  by  faith  in  the 
blood  of  the  covenant,  our  si)iritual  vision  becomes  clearer 
and  our  miniature  minds  arc  ex])anding,  and  we  learn  to 
make  due  allowances  for  the  acts  and  opinions  of  others, 
that  we  have  called  peculiar,  because  they  do  not  quite  ac- 
cord with  our  own  usages  and  tastes. 

In  1815  my  father  removed  "with  his  family  to  Cam- 
bria, Niagara  County,  Western  New  York,  then  a  wilder- 
ness. Soon  after  we  were  settled  in  our  new  home,  we 
lost  my  baby  brother  Josepli,  ■which  made  a  deep  i'.npres- 
sion  upon  my  young  heart,  and  gave  me  great  uneasiness 
in  regard  to  my  own  future  happiness,  should  I  1)0  taken 
away.  I  found  great  relief,  one  day,  while  listening  to  a 
coTiversation  between  father  and  grandfather,  as  to  what 
age  children  were  responsil)lc  to  their  Creator.  Fatiier 
gave  his  o})inion  that  ten  years,  in  the  generality  of  chil- 
dren, is  the  age  that  God  would  call  them  to  an  account 
for  sin.  Grandfather  said  that  "was  about  the  age  he 
thought  children  were  accountable,  and  all  children  that 
die  previous  to  that  age  are  happily  saved  in  heaven. 
"  Yes,"  said  fatlicr ;  "where  there  is  no  law  there  is  no  trans- 
gression." At  this  great  relief  to  my  troubled  heart,  I  ran 
out  to  play  with  my  brother  Harvey,  to  tell  liim  how  long 
we  would  ])C  safe,  if  we  should  die,  for  father  and  grand- 
father said  children  that  died  before  they  were  ten  years 
old  would  go  to  heaven,  and  I  would  be  safe  almost  two 
years,  and  he  would  be  safe  a  good  while  longer  (as  he 


EARLY    LIFE. 


13 


Ult 

icr 

•1 

m- 


two 
he 


was  two  years  and  a  half  yoiingor  than  myself).  "Oh, 
yos,"  said  ho;  "and  Ini  will  he;  safe  a  ^a'oat  many  years, 
'cause  he  's  Uttlc,  if  lie  should  die  as  little  Josic  did."  This 
earliest  conviction  of  sin  yanished  like  the  morninji;  cloud. 
This  idea  was  so  deeply  embedded  in  my  younj,^  n\ind,  that 
wheneyer  I  heard  of  a  child's  death,  my  lirst  incjuiry  was 
fir  its  a,La\  If  under  ten,  I  was  at  case  oyer  its  safety; 
but  if  oyer  ten  years,  I  was  distressed  unless  I  could  hear 
of  some  words  irom  the  one  taken  away,  that  would  indi- 
cate a  preparation  for  tho  change  of  worlds.  The  yivid- 
ness  of  those  early  childhood  imi)ressions  are  frequent  re- 
minders of  the  importance  of  giving  clear  explanations  to 
children,  in  regard  to  important  religious  truths,  as  their 
young  hearts  arc  much  more  impressible  than  is  generally 
conceded. 

K.VllLY  IMPUESSrOXS  OF  .SLAVERY  AND  lU^LIGION. 

During  the  first  six  years  in  our  new  home,  there  was 
no  school  within  three  miles  of  us,  and  all  the  privilege  we 
enjoyed  of  this  kind  was  a  spelling  lesson  given  daily  to 
three  of  us,  the  two  little  girls  of  our  nearest  neighbor  and 
myself.  Our  mothers  pronounced  the  words  for  us  alter- 
nately, at  their  house  and  ours.  In  this  way  we  spelled 
our  book  through  a  number  of  times.  This  i)rivilege,  with 
f  )ur  months  in  school  previous  to  leaving  Canada,  proved  a 
great  blessing.  As  I  possessed  an  in>atiable  thirst  for  knowl- 
edge, I  borrowed  all  the  easy  readers  I  could  find  in  the 
neighborhood.  I  was  especially  interested  in  memoirs  of 
children  and  youth,  Avhich  increased  my  frequent  desire  to 
become  a  Christian.  I  wished  to  read  every  book  that 
came  within  my  reach.  I  read  a  few  of  father's  books, 
<l(signed  fi)r  more  mature  minds.  I  became  deeply  inter- 
ested in  John  AVoolman's  history  of  the  slave-trade,  of  the 
<'aitture  and  cruel  middle  passage  of  negroes,  and  of  the 
thou-<ands  who  died  on  their  voyage  and  were  thrown  into 
the  sea  to  bo  devoured  by  sharks,  that  f  Uowed  the  slave-ship 


I 


■M 


"T 


*■■■ 


1 


I 


t  ' 


*  < 


14 


A  woman'h  lifk-wouk. 


(Jiiy  after  day.  Tlio  pictures  of  these  crowded  slave-ships, 
with  tlie  onielties  of  the  slave  system  after  they  were 
brought  to  our  country,  often  afleeted  me  to  tears;  and  I 
often  read  until  the  midnight  hour,  and  could  not  rest  un- 
til I  had  read  it  twice  through.  My  sympathies  became 
too  deeply  enlisted  for  the  poor  negroes  who  were  thus  en- 
slaved for  time  to  efface. 

The  third  or  fuurth  I  had  ever  seen  of  that  race  was 
an  old  man  called  Uncle  Jeff.  He  seemed  to  serve  any 
one  who  called  u])on  him  for  chores,  in  our  little  village 
cf  Jiockport,  that  grew  up  as  by  magic  uj)oa  the  Erie 
Canal.  Uncle  Jeff  was  frequently  emi)luyed  by  merchants 
to  cry  off  their  stale  articles  on  the  street.  At  one  time 
the  old  man,  whose  head  was  almost  as  white  as  wool,  was 
crying,  "  (jrontlemen  and  ladies'  black  silk  stockin's  of  all 
colors  for  sale,"  holding  them  up  to  view  as  he  })asscd 
along  the  street,  followed  by  a  group  of  boys  crying  out, 
*'2sigger,  nigger,"  and  throwing  grass  and  clay  at  him. 
At  length  he  turned  to  these  half-grown  boys,  looking  very 
sad,  as  he  said,  "Boys,  I  am  just  as  God  made  me,  an' 
so  is  a  toad."  At  this  the  boys  slunk  away ;  and  I  felt 
very  indignant  in  seeing  the  men  who  were  standing  near 
only  laugh,  instead  of  sharply  reproving  those  ill-behaved 
children. 

Another  colored  man,  named  Ben,  came  to  our  town 
with  a  family  who  oi)ened  an  inn.  He  was  employed 
mostly  in  the  kitchen,  and  while  Ben  was  asleep  on  the 
kitchen  floor,  some  rude  boys  put  a  (piantity  of  powder  in 
tin'  back  of  his  pants,  and  j)lacing  a  slow  match  to  it  left 
the  room,  but  watched  the  process  of  their  dial)OJical  sport 
throusxh  a  window,  and  soon  saw  their  victim  blown  up,  it 
nearl 


^•ly 


^ly 


so  badly  burned  that  he  was  never  able  to  sit  or  stoop  after 
this  wicked  act.  He  always  had  to  walk  with  a  cane,  and 
whenever  too  weary  to  stand,  was  compelled  to  lie  down, 
as  his  right  hip  and  lower  limb  were  stiffened.     Yet  little 


EARLY    LIFE. 


1.5 


notice  was  taken  of  this  reckless  act,  but  to  feed  and  poorly 
(.'lothe  this  life-long  cripple,  as  he  went  from  house  to  house, 
because  he  wius  of  that  crushed  and  ne«:lectcd  race. 

UKLIGIOUS  IMPIIESSIONS  AND   EXPEniENCE, 

In  the  Autumn  of  my  thirteenth  year,  with  our  parents' 
permission,  brother  Harvey  and  I  attcndc<l  a  little  ])raycr- 
meetinj^r  at  our  Uncle  Ira  Smith's  house,  near  by.  Here 
Avas  singing,  experiences  given,  with  prayer  and  exhorta- 
tions, in  which  young  poople,  as  well  as  those  more  ad- 
vanced in  years,  took  part.  All  this  was  new  to  me,  hav- 
ing ni'vcr  attended  any  other  meeting  than  of  Friends,  usu- 
ally called  (Quakers.  ;>Iy  father  being  a  jninister  and 
mother  an  elder  in  that  denomination,  they  were  very 
conscientious  in  training  their  children  in  all  the  usages,  as 
Avell  as  princijjles,  of  that  sect.  At  this  Methodist  prayer- 
meeting  a  young  girl,  but  little  older  than  myself,  related 
her  experience,  and  prayed  so  earnestly  for  her  young  as- 
sociates, that  it  took  a  deep  hold  on  my  mind ;  and  on  my 
way  home,  on  that  beautiful  evening,  I  resolved  to  seek  the 
Lord  until  I  could  know  for  myself  that  my  sins  were  for- 
given. Oh,  liow  I  wished  I  was  a  Christian,  as  was  Han- 
nah ]}osworlh.  She  was  .so  young,  and  yet  she  told  us 
how  earnestly  she  sought  the  Lord,  and  found  Jesus  so 
precious  in  the  forgiveness  of  her  sins.  It  was  said  in  that 
meeting  that  God  was  no  respecter  of  persons,  and  that  I 
had  read  in  the  Bible;  and  then  Jesus  had  said,  "Sutler 
little  children  to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not;" 
"and  now,  this  very  night,  I  will  begin  to  seek  the  Lord, 
and  I  never  will  give  up  trying,  if  it  takes  as  long  as  1 
live,  until  I  receive  an  evidence  that  I  am  the  Lord's  child. 
I  want  to  realize  that  peace  and  joy  those  men  and  women 
expressed  in  that  meeting."  As  all  had  retired,  I  placed 
a  candle  in  my  brother's  hand,  and  hurried  hmi  to  bed, 
that  I  might  know  positively  that  no  human  ear  could 
listen  to  my  first  attempt  to  address  my  Heavenly  Father. 


m 


16 


A    W()>fAN'H    MFK-WORK. 


liM 


i'; 


'I 

:  I 


1^':; 


1 1 


I  kuc'It  for  the  first  time  in  my  life,  in  the  roar  of  our 
corn  crili,  but  no  words  could  I  iiucl  for  prayer,  and  a  /''fl- 
ing of  K'ar  came  over  me,  and  I  arose  to  my  liot.  I 
looked  all  around  mo,  but  no  one  was  in  si<fht;  naiiglit  but 
troosand  sliridwof  the  garden  bolow,  and  theothoroal  blue, 
bedecked  with  the  beautiful  moon  and  sparkling  stars,  above. 
\  Is  it  possible;  that  lie  who  created  this  beautiful  world  can 
noti(;c  a  little  girl  like  me?  And  the  thought  occurred 
that  I  had  better  wait  until  I  was  older.  But  the  remarks 
to  which  I  had  just  listened  came  vividly  before  me,  and 
I  rencnvod  my  resolve  to  pray  to  Ilim  who  had  said,  "Suf- 
fer little  children  to  come  unto  me,"  and  again  knelt  for 
j)rayer;  but  that  feeling  of  fear  increased,  until  it  seemed 
as  if  some  one  was  about  to  place  a  hand  upon  my  shoul- 
der, and  I  again  found  myself  on  my  feet.  But  as  no  one 
was  in  sight,  I  queried  whether  this  was  not  the  enemy  of 
my  soul,  to  keep  me  from  j)rayer,  and  i'ell  upon  my  knees 
a  third  time,  determined  to  remain  in  the  position  of  prayer 
until  my  first  petition  to  my  Heavenly  Father  was  pre- 
sented. And  the  prayer  of  the  jiublican  was  repeated 
over  and  over  again,  "  God  be  merciful  to  nic  a  siinier." 
These  wt)rds  above  all  others  seemed  just  for  mo.  I  was 
a  sinner,  and  mercy  was  what  I  wanted.  I  returned  to 
the  house  Avith  a  still  more  fixed  resolve  to  continue  ask- 
ing, with  a  firmer  purpose  never  to  give  over  until  the  evi- 
dence of  pardoning  love  was  mine.  As  I  retired,  I  knelt  by 
my  bedside,  and  repeated  the  same  prayer,  with  a  few  addi- 
tional words,  imploring  the  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  teach 
me  the  way  of  life,  and  penitential  tears  began  to  flow.  Be- 
fore I  slept  my  pillow  was  wet  with  tears,  and  was  turned 
fir  a  dry  place.  As  I  was  reading  the  Bil)le  througli  by 
course,  it  became  more  of  a  comi)anion  than  crver  before. 
The  next  prayer-meeting  was  attended,  and  as  tliey 
knelt  during  the  season  of  prayer  I  felt  an  impression  to 
kneel  Avith  them.  But  the  cross  was  very  great  and  I  did 
not  yield.     I  thought  if  I  did  so  it  would  be  reported  to 


a 


EARLY    MFK. 


17 


•  of  our 
I  a  /';el- 
il-ct.     I 
gilt  but 
•al  l)lue, 
;,  above. 
1)1-1(1  call 
)CCiiriT(l 
remarks 
iiK!,  ami 
il,  "Siif- 
Luc'lt  for 
,  seemed 
ly  slioul- 
3  uo  one 
;ncmy  of 
ay  knees 
){'  prayer 
was  [)rc- 
repeated 

sinner." 
.  I  was 
urued  to 
mue  ask- 
1  the  cvi- 

knelt  by 
few  addi- 
;  to  teach 
low.  Be- 
lls turned 
•ough    by 

r  befon\ 

as   they 

ression  to 

and  I  did 

iported  to 


my  jiarents,  and  they  would  probably  forbid  my  coming  to 
these  little  meetings,  wliieh  1  so  highly  prizi'd.      IJul  this 
was  unprofitable  reasoning,   increasing  tlu;  burden  instead 
of  bringing  the  relief  sought.    I  wept  on  my  way  home,  and 
in  my  evening  supplication  renewed  my  promise  to  be  more 
faithful,  let  others  do  or  say  what  they  wiaild,  if  the  like 
impression  was  ever  again  experience(h     With  i)ermissiou 
1  attended  the  ne.xt  i)rayer-meeting  at  my  uncle's,  and,  as 
if  to   test  my   faithfulness,  two  young  women  of  my  inti- 
mate associates  came  in,  and  sat  one;  on  each  side  of  me. 
At   the  fir.-t  .^tason  of  })rayer,  as  I  did  not   have  that   iin- 
j)ression,  I  felt  (piite  at  ease,  and  tliankful  to  my   I'allier 
in  heaven  Ibr  excusing  me.     But  tlu;  next  united  su|TpIi- 
catinn,  I  felt  that  I  must  uniti;  with  them  in  kneeling,  and 
wliilo   one   tried   to   jaill   me  up  by   tlie  arm,  with   saying 
"I'd  be  a  little  dunce  if  I  was  in  thy  i)laee,"  the  other 
sister  j)inched  the  otlier  arm,   "  Xuw,  l.aura  Smith,  b(>  a 
lillle  ^Irtliodist,  will  thee?     I'd  be  ashamed  if  I  was  thee; 
every  body  will  make  fun  of  thee."     But  I  kept    my  po.-i- 
ti<in  and  unuhi  no  reply,  but  st'cretly  })rayed   for  strength 
in   my  great  weakness.     But  my  fears  were  fully  realized. 
It  was  at  once  re{)orted  that  Laura  Smith  would  be  a  Meth- 
odist if  allowed  bv  her  parents.     And  for  a  lou'''  time  no 
jiennission  was  given  to  attend  those  little  ])rayer-me('tings, 
iiiv  ])arents  assiuning  this  reason:   "This  ^Methodist  excit  •- 
mcnt   is  unprofitable,  especially  for  children.     Tiiey  have 
an  overheated  zeal,  that  is  not  according  to  knowledge,  and 
wo  do  not  think  it   best  for  thee  to  attend;   we  want   our 
children  at  a  suitalde  ago  to  be  actuated  by  settled  jjrin- 
ciple,  not  mere  excitement."     This  reasoning  by  my  dear 
i'ather  strongly  templed  me  to  give  up  my  resolutions  al- 
together.    Until  I  was  eighteen  I  felt  no  liberty  whatever 
in   unl)urdcning   my  troubled    heart    to  my  dear  parents. 
Tliey  were  unac(iuainted  with  the  longings  of  my  poor  soid. 
Like  tli(^  lone  sjjarrow  upon  the  house-top,  T  miturnet'  many 
weeks,  sought  the  solitary  i>lace  for  reading  my  Bible,  and 


\ 


:.i.-l 


'it'!     [    I 


;i 


m 


■it? 


iiil 


18 


A  woman's  life-work. 


])niycr ;  oflcii  watered  my  pillow  with  tears,  and  longed 
for  the  day,  and  during  the  day  longed  for  tlie  night,  in 
which  I  might  pour  out  my  sorrows  to  my  Heavenly 
Father  out  of  sight  of  human  eye.  I  was  conscious  that 
my  sadness  was  troul)llng  my  dear  parents.  Oh!  how  I 
prayed  for  light  to  dispel  this  darkness  and  doubt — some- 
times ready  to  conclude  that,  as  it  was  my  duty  to  ohey 
my  parents,  the  Lord  would  excuse  me  in  waiting  until  I 
was  of  age.  Yet  in  reading  the  many  j)recious  promises 
of  the  Lord  Jesus,  "Come  nnto  me,  all  ye  that  labor  and 
are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest;"  "Seek,  and  ye 
shall  find,"  I  found  fresh  courage.  But  why  do  I  not  find 
this  rest  for  this  weary  heart?  Why  do  I  not  find  the 
way  to  seek  for  the  hidden  treasure  I  so  much  longed  for? 
These  queries  were  continually  revolving  in  my  mind,  with- 
out a  satisfactory  solution.  Sometimes  I  almost  concluded 
that  God  was  too  good  to  send  the  beings  he  created  for  his 
own  glory  to  perdition  to  all  eternity,  and  all  would  ulti- 
mately be  saved ;  at  other  times,  I  could  not  reconcile 
universal  salvation  with  the  parable  of  I^azarus  and  the 
rich  man,  and  was  ready  to  conclude  that  salvation  was  for 
the  eh;cted  few,  and  there  were  those  who  could  not  be 
saved,  and  I  was  among  the  lost.  In  one  of  these  seasons 
of  almost  despair,  I  venture<l  to  attend  a  ISIethodist  meet- 
ing held  in  a  private  house,  in  company  with  my  uncle, 
lieing  at  his  house,  I  did  not  go  home  for  permission.  The 
minister  was  a  plainly  dressed  man;  the  opening  hymn  was 
new  to  me,  but  every  line  seemed  especially  for  me : 

"  God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way. 
His  wonders  to  perform." 

It  was  read  and  sung  in  an  impressive  manner.     The 
fourth  stanza  seemed  specially  suited  to  my  case: 

"  Judge  not  the  Lord  by  feeble  sense, 
But  trust  him  for  his  grace  ; 
Behind  a  frowning  providence 
Ho  bides  a  smiling  face." 


EARLY   LIFE. 


19 


nd   longed 
e  night,  ill 

Heavenly 
scions  that 
3h!  how  I 
ubt — some- 
ity  to  obey 
ing  until  I 
IS  promises 
:,  labor  and 
ek,  and  ye 

I  not  find 
)t  find  the 
longed  for? 
nind,  with- 
;  conelndod 
[ited  for  his 
wouhl  ulti- 
t  reconcile 
IS  and  tiie 
ion  was  for 
dd  not  be 
lese  i?easons 

idlst  nieet- 

niy  uncle, 
ision.     The 

hynm  was 

nic : 


mcr. 


Tl 


le 


This  gave  new  light,  new  courage,  and  fresh  hope  sprang 
up,  lik(!  streaks  of  the  morning  sunbeam  in  the  Eastern 
8kv,  preluding  the  full  blaze  of  the  orb  of  day.  The  i)rayer 
and  the  text  u])on  which  he  based  his  nsniarks  were  all 
flowinfr  in  the  same  channel.  The  exhortation  was  to  the 
discouraged  and  despairing  soul  to  rcmend)cr  that  the 
ilurkest  time  of  night  was  just  before  the  break  of  day,  a 
remark  1  had  never  before  heard.  I  returned  home  stronger  [ 
than  ever  before,  and  ventured  to  tell  mother  of  the  good 
sermon  ])reached  by  Isaac  Puller.  But  she  was  again 
troubled,  and  reminded  me  of  those  we  read  of  in  .Scrip- 
ture, who  would  compass  sea  and  land  to  gain  one  prose- 
lyte, that  when  gained,  "were  twofold  jnore  the  child  of 
hell  than  themselves."  She  also  said  that  my  uncles  would 
})e  well  ])leased  to  have  me  go  with  them.  I  assured  her  that 
neither  of  my  four  ^Methodist  uncles  had  ev:}r  intimated  a 
word  to  mv  on  the  subject.  "But,"  said  she,  "actions 
sometimes  speak  louder  than  words."  This  was  not  de- 
signed to  discourage  me,  but  darker  than  ever  was  the 
clou<l  of  unbelief  that  filled  my  heart.  Was  Isaac  Buifer 
a  child  of  hell?  then  there  is  nothing  in  religion,  with  any 
body.  It  was  all  a  farce — all  mere  "overheated  zeal,  not 
according  to  knowledge."  All  mere  "religious  excitctnent." 
I  well-nigh  distrusted  all  religion,  and  i'ather's  and  nKjther's  | 
reliuion  was  the  same  as  others,  of  no  value.  I  had 
gro})ed  my  way  in  midnight  darkness,  trying  to  find  the 
true  way,  when  there  was  none.  In  this  despairing  state, 
while  on  my  way  to  my  grandfather's  on  an  errand,  I  halted 
to  listen  to  the  mournful  notes  of  the  forest  birds  at  my 
left;  I  looked  upon  the  field  of  waving  grain  at  my  right, 
and  burst  into  a  fiod  of  tears  as  I  exclaimed,  Oh,  what  a 
sin-stricken  world  is  this!  Every  head  of  wheat  is  l)owed 
in  mourning  with  poor  me!  Is  there  no  balm  in  Gilead? 
is  there  no  physicMan  there  to  heal  this  sin-slricken  wnrld, 
this  sin-sick  soul  of  mine?  Like  a  flash  the  answer  came, 
Yes,  Jesus  is  that  balm  ;  he  shed  iiis  own  i)recions  blood 


l« 


^H 


i!l 


!f 


I  ' 


I  I 


20 


A   woman's    LIFI>W011K, 


for  mc  on  Calvary,  tliat  I  might  live  now,  and  for  ever- 
more! Yes,  the  liealing  l)alm  is  a})])lied,  and  I  am  saved! 
Oh,  Avliat  a  fountain  la  opened  for  cleansing!  !^[y  2)eaeo 
was  like  an  overflowing  river.  It  seemed  as  if  I  could 
almost  live  Avithout  breathing — my  tears  were  brushed 
away  by  the  breath  of  heaven.  I  stood  a  monument  of 
ama/ing  mercy,  praising  God  with  every  breath.  All  na- 
ture praising,  instead  of  mourning  as  it  did  a  few  moments 
before.  O,  how  changed  the  scene !  The  birds  now  sent  forth 
their  notes  of  praise !  Tlie  leaves  of  the  forest  clapped 
their  hands  for  joy,  and  the  branches  Avaved  with  ju'aise! 
Every  head  of  wiieat  was  now  bowed  iu  sweet  submission. 
O,  wliat  a  leveling  of  all  nations  of  the  earth  Avas  this 
baptism.  I  liad  been  prejudiced  against  the  Irish  people, 
as  I  never  had  seen  one  of  that  nation  until  they  came  to 
our  town,  Lockport  (as  it  Avas  then  called),  by  hundreds, 
to  work  on  the  Erie  canal,  that  ran  through  a  part  of 
fatlier's  farm;  and  as  they  Averc  frequently  passing  our 
house  drunk,  I  was  afraid  of  tliem.  But  now  CA'cry  soul 
seemed  so  pn^cious,  I  thought  I  could  toil  all  my  life  long 
if  I  could  l)ecome  instrumental  in  bringing  one  soul  to  the 
Savior  who  (VkmI  to  saA'e  sinners,  thougli  they  miglit  be  the 
greatest  drunkards  in  tluit  or  anv  other  nation.  Jesus  shed 
his  blood  to  redeem  all  who  Avould  by  fliith  accept  salva- 
tion so  freely  offered.  Tiic  African  and  Indian  races  were 
alike  objects  of  redeeming  love.  That  Avas  a  fatliomless 
fountain.  After  spending  a  little  time  in  this  rcA'crie,  I 
Aveiit  IVi)m  this  liallowed  place  to  accom])]ish  my  errand, 
and  met  a  neighbor,  who  looked  at  me  earnestly  and  said, 
"Laura,  wliat 's  the  matter?  are  you  sick?"  "O,  no; 
I  'm  not  sick,"  and  hurried  on.  And  the  first  greeting  I 
received  from  grandfather  was  the  same  query,  aa'Iio  re- 
ceived the  same  reply.  I  left  for  home  as  soon  as  the 
errand  Avas  accomplislied,  but  as  T  was  passing  out  of  the 
door  1  iiiel  my  ruclc  Americus  with  the  satno  query,  who 
also  received  the  san\e  answer.     Oh,  how  I  wished  father 


EARLY  IJFE. 


21 


for  Gver- 

avi  saved! 
^ly  peaces 
f   I  could 
3    brushed 
luiucut  of 
,     All  na- 
V  moments 
•  sent  forth 
<t  clapped 
ith  praise! 
ul)missioii. 
I   was   this 
sh  people, 
;y  came  to 
hundreds, 
a  part  of 
issing  our 
every  soul 
y  life  long 
;()ul  to  the 
lilt  he  the 
Ji^sus  shed 
ept  s;dva- 
races  were 
fathomless 
reverie,  I 
y  errand, 
and  said, 
"O,  no; 
greeting  I 
,  who   re- 
m  as   the 
lut  of  the 
uery,  who 
led  father 


I 


and  mother  could  understand  me,  and  the  ovcrNvhelming 
sorrow  I  had  waded  through  in  search  of  this  satisfying 
portion. 

If   any    little    diflerences    arose    among    my    younger  > 
brothers  and  sister,  all  melted  a',»ay  with  a  word  fron)  me.  \ 
This  unalloyed  peace  remained  with  me  a  number  of  days, 
and  when  the  time  arrived  for  the  appointed  prayer-meet- 
ing at  Uncle  Ira's,  I  had  a  great  desire  to  attend  it,  and 
hoi)ed,  l)y  asking  for  permission  to  go,  motlier  might  ask 
f  )r  my  reason.     In  this  I  was  disappointed  with  a  denial,   j 
However,  I  continued  to  pray  to  Him  wlio  owned  me  as 
liis  child,  to  prepare  the  way  in  his  own  time,     My  anxiety 
increased  to  do  something  for  n:y  dear  Savior,  who  indeed 
was  chief  among  ten  thousand.     I  could  drop  a  few  words 
here  and  there,  but  with  great  timidity,  but  nothing  of  my 
experience  in  this  new  life;  that  was  hid  with  Christ  in  God. 
I  was  anxious  to  attend  that  little  prayer-meeting,  where 
my  mind  first  was  arrested  on  the  subject  of  my  soul's  best 
interests.     I  often  dreamed  of  earnestly  praying  or  exhort- 
ing in  that  prayer-meeting,  and  would  awaken  myself  iu  , 
the  exercise.     I  had  a  longing  desire  to  invite  to  this  iros- 
i)el  feast  others,  espt'cially  my  voimg  associates. 

As  Isaac  Puffer  had  an  aj)pointed  meeting  at  a  brother' 
Crane's,  half  a   mile  distant,  on   Sabbath   at  four  o'chtck 
v.    -M.,  I  asked    father  f)r   permission    to  attend,    hoping 
thereby  to  find  liberty  to  open  my  pent-up  feelings  to  my 
dear  parents,  who  so  little  understood  me.     But  my  hopes 


wiM'c  vain. 


Fath 


d 


n. 


ler  said,  in   rep;v 


aura,  I  want  thee 


never  to  ask  me  to  go  to  a  ^Methodist  meeting  again." 

(),  what  a  blow  was  this  f()r  my  trembling  frame!    Th(> 

r  closed  more  tightly  than  ever  befi)re.     Not  one  word 

could  T  utter.     I  left  the  room,  to  find  my  old  resort  in 

the   grove,   to   weep   bitter   tears  of  disappointment.      I'ut 


door 


idelv   diiferent    was   this   1)ur(l 


en. 


now  resting  upon  niv 
Iie;irt,  from  that  mountain  weight  of  sin  and  transgression 
borne  a  lew  weeks  previously.     I  read  a  few  days  befi)re 


mm 


J*l 


II' 


22 


A  woman's  life-work. 


I'll 

'it; 


■-.  I 
i'i 


(  I 


I 

i 


I  :i  1 

1 1  i 
f 

ft  1 

,  i  ■ 


I!. 

I  ■; 
) 


1  I 
'i! 
Ill 


A 


j  of  the  Laptism  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  our  perfect  jjattcru. 

I  But  he  came  to  fulfill.  Then  I  read  of  Diillp  and  the 
apostles  who  baptized  after  his  ascension  ;  and  to  my  young 
and  limited  understanding  I  accepted  the  water  baptism  as 
an  outward  acknowledgment  of  the  saving  baptism  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  I  fully  believed  I  had  received  the  spiritual 
baptism,  but  I  greatly  desired  to  fcjllow  the  Lord  Jesus 
wherever  he  might  lead.  I  road  "Barclay's  Apology"  on 
that  subject;  yet  my  childliood  mind  dwelt  much  on  what 
I  read  in  tliose  Bible  examples.  But  to  no  human  being 
did  I  ])resent  these  impressions.  And  I  also  found  the  ex- 
ample of  singing,  that  I  believed  was  voml,  as  I  read, 
"And  they  sang  a  hynm  and  went  out."  And  it  seemed 
right,  for  the  present,  for  me  to  unite  with  the  Methodists, 
were  it  not  f  )r  the  opposition  of  my  parents,  that  I  felt 
sure  Avould  not  exist  could  they  but  understand  mo.  It 
ahso  seemed  clearly  impressed  ui)on  my  mind  that,  if  my 
mind  should  become  clear  to  unite  with  that  branch  of  tlio 
Christian  Church,  it  would  bo  fn*  eighteen  or  twenty  years 
at  longest.     But  why  not  always  be  my  phice,  if  it  is  my 

(duty  now?  was  a  query  that  I  much  dwelt  uj)on.     1  ear- 

Inestly  prayed  that  (Jod  A/ould  send  Caleb  AlcComber  to  us, 

I  an   intimate   friend   of  my  jiarents,  and  a  noted  minister 

.'  aniong  Friends. 

\  AVitliin  a  week  my  heart  leaped  for  joy  at  the  an- 
nouncement l)y  my  father  that  Caleb  McCombcr  Avas  in 
the  neighborhood. 

"What  has  brought  him  here  at  this  time?  His 
brother  (Dr.  Smith)  is  all  right ;  ho  has  made  no  trouble 
of  late  in  drinking,"  responded  mother. 

"  I  do  not  know,  I  am  sure,  what  has  induced  him  to 
come  here  at  this  time,  as  there  is  no  meeting  of  business 
on  hand,  for  him  to  take  this  journey  of  nearly  a  hundred 
miles  to  attend,"  rejoined  father. 

Ah,  the  Lord  has  heard  and  answered  prayer!  He 
has  heard  the  cry  of  this  poor  child.     "  Bless  the  Lord,  O 


CALEB   McCOMnEIl's   SERMON. 


23 


pattern. 

and  llie 
ny  young 
aplij^ni  as 
-ni  of  tlio 
J  spiritual 
Drd  Jesus 
)logy"  on 
I  on  what 
nan  being 
lid  the  ex- 
s  I  read, 
it  seemed 
letliodists, 
hat  I  felt 
d  nic.     It 
lat,  if  my 
neh  of  the 
enty  years 
if  it  is  my 
111.     1  ear- 

iK'r  to  us, 
minister 


it   the  an- 
ler  "svas  iu 

me?     His 
no  trouble 

cd  him  to 
if  l)usincss 
a  hundred 


lyer !     He 
le  Lord,  O 


1 


my  sold,  and  ft)rget  not  all  his  benefits."  I  could,  with 
Davi.l,  praise  him  with  a  full  heart,  and  sought  a  h)no 
l)!a('e  to  return  thanksgiving  an'  praise  to  him  who  had  so 
signally  answered  my  petition,  and  was  confident  that  tho 
same  All-seeing  Eye  and  Directing  Hand  would  prepare 
the  way  for  the  desired  interview. 

The  following  day  being  the  Sabbath,  we  listened  to  a 
sermon  by  Caleb  MeCond)er  that  was  thought  very  singular 
at  that  day  for  a  Friend.  Ilis  text  was  1  Corinthians  xii,  . 
0  and  7;  "And  there  arc  diversities  of  operations,  but  it 
is  the  same  God  whieli  worketh  all  in  all."  He  referred  to 
the  diversities  of  denominations,  that  were  as  families  com-/ 
posing  the  one  true  Church.  And  in  this  diversity  of 
operations  there  were  those  whose  impressions  of  dnty 
Avere  clearly  given  in  regard  to  complying  with  outward 
ordinances,  water  baptism  and  the  L()r(l's-snpi)er ;  and  if 
these  impressions  were  not  complied  with,  a  loss  would  be 
sustained  in  sj)iritual  life.  And  he  exliorted  to  I'aithfulness 
ill  obeying  our  Lord  and  blaster.  This  discourse  appeared 
as  directly  addressed  to  this  trenibling  child  as  did  that 
of  Isaac  I'uHer. 

At  the  close  of  the  meeting,  said  one  of  the  elders  to  / 
another,  "Did  thou  ever  hear  just  snch  a  sermon  from  a 
I'riond  ?  I  thou'dit  it  soundinl  like  a  I*resl>vterian  dis-- 
cour.-c."  Said  another:  "What  ails  Caleb  to-day.  T: 
thought  he  preached  like  a  ^Methodist."  While  these  re- 
marks were  made  I  felt  C(mfident  we  had  listened  to  a< 
messiige  from  the  Great  Head  of  the  true  Church  by  his 
servant. 

As  he  dined  with  our  nearest  neigi'.i)or,  in  company 
with  his  half-brother,  Dr.  Isaac  Smith,  and  wife,  we  all 
walked  in  company  nearly  to  our  home,  and  the  two 
young  women  invited  mc  to  call.  I  acce[)ted,  Avith  the 
excuse,  for  a  drink  of  water  (h.oping  for  an  opportunity 
of  telling  that  good  man  that  I  dc-iivd  to  have  a  talk  with 
him,  and  I'ur  that  purpose  would  call  after  dimier). 


/ 


m 


W 


I 


ill! 


I  m 


I } 


•tl; 


:ii 


I  ; 


>  . 


lit! 


*  I 


i  I 


24 


A  woman's  1, 11' i> work. 


But  wliile  wjiiting  for  the  glass  ol'  water,  said  Caleb 
McComber,  "Child,  how  old  art  thou?" 

The  reply  was,  "  Thirteen." 

"I  want  thee  to  tell  thy  father  and  mother  to  come 
here  at  three  o'clock  this  afternoon,  and  I  want  thee  to 
come  Avith  them." 

I  gladly  performed  my  errand,  and  at  three  P.  M.  we 
were  there.  After  a  little  space  of  silence  he  addressed 
the  heads  of  families  ])rcscnt,  then  directed  his  remarks  to 
us  (the  two  young  women  and  myself),  at  first  rather 
general.  Then  he.  said  :  "  I  want  to  say  to  one  of  you  that 
thou  hast  passed  through  an  experience  far  beyond  tiiy 
years;  thou  hast  known  what  it  was  to  a.^k  for  deliverance 
from  sorrow  and  darkness,  and  thou  hast  also  known  what 
it  was  to  receive  the  answer  of  i)eace  from  thy  Heavenly 
Father  that  the  world  knows  not  of.  Hold  fast  that  thou 
hast  received,  that  no  man  take  thy  crown.  Be  faithful 
in  the  little,  and  more  will  be  given.  Bear  in  mind  that 
little  things  are  little  tilings,  but  to  be  faithful  in  little 
things  is  something  great." 

With  exhortations  to  faithfulness  and  encouragement, 
this  was  to  me  an  imdoubted  evidence  that  He  whose  ear 
is  ever  open  to  the  cry  of  his  children  had  most  signally 
answered  prayer  in  this  clear  and  definite  searching  of  my 
heart.  Very  near  and  dear  was  that  faithful  nursing- 
father  brought  U)  this  little  child's  heart.  With  all  free- 
dom, I  could  have  related  to  him  the  obstacles  that  a])peared 
in  the  way  of  duty  with  me.  But  at  that  hour  my  feelings 
wore  too  deep  for  utterance.  Instead  of  remaining  longer, 
as  was  my  impression,  I  returned  home  with  my  parents, 
with  the  view  of  returning  for  a  niDre  i)rivate  interview 
when  I  could  better  command  my  feelings. 

When  about  to  return,  I  l)egan  to  reason  over  the  pro- 

pviety  of  going  back.     Certainly  that  good  man  had  said 

11  I  could  ask,  both  in   his  sermon  and   in  the  religious 

opportunity  in  the  family.    And  now  there  might  be  danger 


,/l 


p:aria'  lifk. 


25 


vid  Caleb 


r  to  come 
it  tlicc  to 

P.  M.  we 

addressed 
cmarks  to 
rst  rather 
if  yuu  that 
cyoiid  thy 
Icliveraiice 
lowii  what 

Heaveuly 
:  that  thou 
Bo  faithful 

mind  that 
ul  in  little 

iiragenu'ut, 

whose  ear 

st  sigually 

liing  of  my 

'ul  nursiug- 

th  all  frcc- 

at  ai)pearod 

my  feeliugs 

ling  longer, 

ay  parents, 

0  interview 


of  going  too  far.  And  there  are  those  two  young  women, 
wiio  nuide  sport  of  me  in  that  prayer-meeting,  wljre  I 
kiK'lt  wiiilo  others  led  in  prayer.  Now  they  would  make 
mi>r(!  sport  than  ever,  as  there  are  so  many  there  I  could 
not  speak  to  him  without  their  knowing  it,  and  I  shrank 
from  going.  I  feared  John  Bunyan's  "lions  in  the  way;" 
but  if  1  iiad  been  faitiiful  I  would  have  found  them  chained, 
as  were  his.  For  it  was  hard  for  me  to  give  up  the  more 
private  interview,  as  I  was  very  anxious  to  secure  an  in- 
terview between  that  minister  and  my  dear  parents,  as  I 
was  sure  he  understood  me  much  better  than  they.  But 
I  neglected  my  duty  in  this.  O,  how  weak  was  human 
nature ! 

I  had  j)reviously  thought  I  would  never  again  offend 
my  loving  kSavior,  but  would  follow  him  through  evil  as 
well  as  good  rep(jrt.  O,  how  precious  his  cleansing  blood 
appeared  to  me !  It  seemed  as  if  the  drops  that  fell  in  his 
agony  in  the  Garden  of  Gethsemane  jiossessed  power  to 
cleanse  a  world  of  sin  and  pollution.  Yet  I  was  not  faith- 
ful in  the  little.  Although  my  parents  never  after  forbade 
my  gi>ing  to  a  Methodist  or  any  other  meeting,  yet  I  saw  it 
grieved  them  as  I  frequently  attended  those  prayer-meet- 
ings, hut  never  to  the  neglect  of  our  own,  and  was  often 
imj^resscd  to  speak  or  offer  prayer,  l)ut  did  not  yield.  I 
found,  to  my  sorrow,  that  these  omissions  produced  povertv 
of  soul,  and  often  cried,  "  O,  my  leanness!  my  leanness!" 
In  secret  many  tears  were  shed  over  the  loss  of  that  joy 
that  had  heen  my  experience. 

Little  by  little  the  candle  of  the  Lord  that  shone  so 
brightly  became  dim,  and  at  the  close  of  one  year  I  sought 
the  society  of  the  gay  and  mirthful,  more  effectually  to 
drown  my  bitter  regrets  for  having  turned  aside  from  the 
path  so  clearly  marked  out  for  me.  I  fully  realized  that 
the  dark  cloud  overshadowing  me  was  the  result  of  diso- 
bedience. 

In  company  with  a  few  of  my  companions,  I  attended 

8 


V 


^(ll 

^t':* 


i^ 


>v 


•  -a 
k 


if 


h  ■■' 


I 

11 


26 


A  woman's  life-work. 


i 


,li 


•ill! 


the  funeral  of  nn  infant  in  our  town.  The  service  was 
conducted  l)y  a  Baptist  minister,  who  had  just  come  into 
tlie  i)lacc.  There  was  nt^tliinj;  in  his  remarks  that  attracted 
my  special  attention.  After  tlie  meeting  closed,  and  people 
were  leaving,  the  mhiister  passed  on  a  little  distance,  and 
turned  l)ack,  as  if  something  had  been  forgotten.  Pressing 
through  the  crowd,  he  ascended  the  porch,  and  came  directly 
to  me,  looking  earnestly  at  me,  as  he  reached  his  hand  for 
mine,  saying : 

"  I  felt  as  if  1  could  not  leave  this  place  without  asking 
this  young  woman  a  few  questions.  Have  you  ever  expe- 
rienced religion  ?" 

This  came  upon  me  like  a  clap  of  thunder,  he,  being 
an  entire  stranger,  asking  a  question  I  never  had  occasion 
to  answer.  I  hesitated,  as  I  had  never  intimated  a  word 
of  my  experience  to  any  human  being.  My  first  thought 
Avas  to  deny,  but  like  a  flash  came  the  words  of  Jesus, 
"He  that  denieth  me  before  men,  him  Avill  I  also  deny 
before  my  Father  and  his  holy  angels."  No;  I  can  not — 
I  will  not,  though  I  die.  With  this  thought  I  frankly 
replied : 

"  I  think  I  have." 

**  Do  you  now  enjoy  it?" 

'*  I  do  not." 

This  relieved  me  from  the  dilemma  of  being  a  disgrace 
to  the  cause  of  Christ,  as  a  number  of  m)  gay  companicms 
■were  with  me,  also  those  Christian  young  people  to  whom 
I  had  listened  Avitli  interest  in  prayer  and  exhortations. 
But  searching  remarks  from  him  fallowed.  Still  holding 
my  hand,  he  said  : 

"You  have  known  of  earnest  pleading  for  the  pardon 
of  sin ;  and  you  have  known  what  it  was  to  rejoice,  as 
your  prayers  were  answered.  You  have  known  your 
duty,  and  did  it  not,  and  have  brought  yourself  into 
darkness.  Do  not  occupy  this  dangerous  ground  longer. 
Return  to  your  first  love.     Do  your  first  work  over ;   and 


EARLY   LIFE. 


27 


He  who  is  abundant  in  mercy  will  again  accept  you.  ^lay 
God  grant  his  blessing  upon  you !     Good  bye." 

And  he  left  me  bathed  in  tears. 

These  earnest  words  reopened  the  many  wounds  that 
many  neglected  duties  had  made.  I  could  not  doubt  l)ut 
Elder  "Wiuchell  was  as  truly  sent  from  God  to  deliver  this 
message  as  was  Caleb  IMcComber,  for  whom  I  j)rayed  in 
my  distress.  But  now  the  Holy  Spirit  had  s(night  me  out, 
unasked  for,  to  warn  me  of  the  danger  in  the  cflbrt  to  oc- 
cupy neutral  ground,  as  I  had  concluded  to  do  until  I  was 
of  age.  I  saw  more  clearly  that  I  was  responsible  to  my 
Savior,  who  had  done  great  things  for  me,  whereof  I  did 
rejoice  with  exceeding  great  joy. 

Again  my  Bible  became  my  daily  companion,  with 
prayer  for  my  Savior's  directing  hand.  But  my  parents 
were  again  troubled,  as  those  first  impressions  returned  in 
full  force.  I  intimated  my  condition  of  mind  to  my  par- 
ents, but,  with  my  natural  timidity,  not  as  freely  as  I  (jught. 
They  still  attributed  these  impressions  to  the  influence 
of  my  Methodist  uncles,  and  considered  their  duty  was 
to  place  these  restraints  upon  their  child.  Father  and 
mother  had  requested  to  become  members  of  the  Friends* 
Society  while  three  of  their  children  were  under  seven 
years,  and  requested  for  us,  making  us  equivalent  to 
birthrigiit  members,  according  to  the  usage  of  our  So- 
ciety. From  the  time  of  my  Christian  experience,  I  was 
never  in  sympathy  with  the  system  of  birthright  member- 
ship. I  believed  it  to  be  a  source  of  weakness,  instead  of 
spiritual  life  in  this  or  any  other  Christian  body,  and  that 
all  members  of  the  Church  militant  should  become  united 
by  a  heart-felt  experience.  I  fully  realized  the  loss  I  was 
warned  to  shun  by  yielding  to  the  earnest  desires  of  my 
(liar  parents,  who  were  conscientious  in  their  restraint. 
They  said,  in  after  years,  that  they  were  laboring  under  a 
mistake,  as  was  their  timid  child,  in  not  more  faithfully 
following  those  early  impressions  of  duty.     I  was  not  faith- 


iM'  "^  if 


,H 


28 


K'f 


A    WOMAN'S    IJFI>\\'OnK. 


r 


*: 


!'l 


hi 


fill  in  tlio  little,  consoquontly  more  was  withhold.  My  great 
mistake  was  the  lack  of  faith,  in  not  fully  returnin*,'  to  my 
Fatlu'i-'.s  house,  where  the  little  wandering  prodigal  would 
have  heeu  received,  and  the  new  best  robe  again  granted, 
and  the  rough  way  would  have  been  made  smooth,  and 
the  impassable  mountain  that  seemed  to  rise  so  high  would 
have  melted  away  befcjrc  the  life-giving  beams  of  the  Hun 
of  righteousness.  But  I  yielded  to  my  tin)idity,  and  the 
conclusion  was  reached  to  live  a  quiet  Christian  life,  with 
my  BiWe  and  secret  communing  with  my  dear  Lord  and 
Savior  in  secret  ])rayer,  as  I  could  not  give  up  a  strictly 
religious  life.  But  dindy  did  the  lamp  of  life  burn,  com- 
pared with  its  former  brightness. 

The  g-teatest  source  of  retrograding  in  the  divine  life  is 
inifaith fulness  in  the  i)erforniance  of  known  duty.  JNIany 
of  the  clouds  that  overshadow  us  we  bring  by  withholding 
more  than  is  meet,  and  it  tends  to  poverty  of  soul.  The 
tiilent  committed  to  our  charge  is  to  be  occupied,  and  is 
always  doubled  when  occupied  by  its  possessor;  but,  as  I 
saw  many  in  whom  I  had  confidence  as  living  a  quiet 
Christian  life — and  this  was  more  congenial  to  my  natural 
feeling — I  reached  the  conclusion  to  make  my  Bible  and 
secret  prayer  my  companions  as  long  as  I  lived,  and  a 
Christian  life  in  the  Society  of  my  parents'  choice, 
r  At  the  early  age  of  sixteen  I  became  acquainted  with 
Charles  Haviland,  Jr.,  a  young  man  who  was  acquainted 
with  the  Savior's  pardoning  love,  whose  father  and  mother 
were  both  acknowledged  ministers  in  the  Society  of 
Friends.  From  him  I  accepted  a  proposition  of  marriage, 
and  on  the  3d  of  11th  month,  1825,  our  marriage  was  con- 
summated at  Friends'  Meeting,  in  Lockport,  Niagara 
County,  New  York,  according  to  the  usage  of  Friends. 
The  following  Spring  we  commenced  housekeeping  in  our 
own  home,  in  Royalton  Township,  nine  miles  east  of  Lock- 
]K)rt,  and  my  dear  parents  and  family  removed  to  Mich- 
igan Territory.     Although  parting  from  them  was  severe, 


EARLY    I.IFK. 


•2!) 


vet  with  my  young  and  dovotcd  luisl)and  I  was  contontccl 
ami  happy  a.s  was  p()!i.sil)le  t(t  ho,  witli  so  many  ivMuindiTs 
of  tlio  clniid  that  rested  over  ni(>  in  my  spiritual  horizon, 
with  all  my  constant  slrivini.'  t'"r  its  removal.  Pluelic  ' 
Field,  an  eminent  ministi-r  among  Friends,  ai)i)oiiited  a 
iiicetint!^  in  our  neii,dihorhoo(l,  in  which  she  dwelt  upon 
tli(!  necessity  of  receivinir  daily  nourishment  from  the 
true  antl  living  Vine  to  heeomo  fruit-hearing  hranches,  and 
remarked  that  there  were  those  whose  religious  exi)eriencc 
sconied  divergent  from  the  mamier  in  which  they  were 
hrought  up,  and  through  unfaithfulness  had  well-nigh  lost 
sight  of  the  highway  of  holiness,  in  the  mistaken  view  of 
neutrality,  when  there  Avas  not  an  h)eh  of  such  ground  all 
the  way  from  years  of  responsihility  to  the  grave.  We  are 
gathering  with  Christ  or  scattering  ahroad.  This  earnest 
disc(jursc  so  eleftrly  defined  my  own  condition,  that  1  re- 
newed my  many  l)roken  vows,  and  was  almost  persuaded  to 
yield  the  unsubduetl  will,  and  hoj)e  was  indidged  that  the 
Father  of  unbounded  mercy,  in  his  illimitable  love,  would 
again  reveal  himself  in  breaking  the  bread  of  life. 

September,  1829,  wejemoyyd  to  jNIichigau  Territory, 
and  settled  in  Raisin,  Lenawee  County,  within  three  miles 
of  my  parents,  brothers,  and  sister,  with  our  two  little 
suns,  to  share  with  others  the  privations  of  a  new  country, 
as  well  as  advantages  of  cheaj)  land.  As  there  were  a 
number  of  our  Society  in  this  vicinity,  a  Friends'  ^Meeting 
was  organized,  in  which  we  all  had  an  interest,  and  en- 
deavored to  maintain  it  in  the  usual  order  of  our  Stjcietv. 
But  no  true  peace  was  mine,  I  was  still  a  wanderer  from 
the  true  Church  militant.  I  once  knew  the  good  Shep- 
herd's voice,  but  was  now  too  far  away  to  recognize  it.  In 
these  sad  remembrances  I  sought  a  subterfuiije  behind 
which  to  hide  in  a  false  rest.  Eagerly  I  read  a  J222l^  ^^ 
that  subject,  and  drank  its  plausible  arguments  without 
stint.  It  was  a  panacea,  a  temporary  opiate  to  quiet  the 
vacillating  condition  of  a  restless  mind ;  yet  my  Bible  was 


i 


4 


Hill    Y 


1'? 


HI 


If  Is 


',1' 


p' 


i 


ifl'f.w 


K 

>  'i 


1'' 


80 


A  woman's  ijfe-wouk. 


nw 


$1 


I  I: 


I'.  ill 


not  laid  asido,  and  many  portions  of  Scriptnrc  wore  vig- 
ilantly hroMi^dit  to  prove  this  sp('('i(,iis  error  to  hv  a  radical 
truth;  and  two  years   in  this  dead   faith  I  lived  a  dying 
lite.      But  1  found  my  investigations  were  not  i'or  the  whole 
truth,  l)ut  was  dwelling  upon  the  love  and  benevolence  of 
Hod  to  the  exclusion  of  justice  as  an  attribute  of  the  Lord, 
as  well  as  meny,  and  decided  to  accept  the  whole  truth, 
and  abide  its  searchings ;    and  sought  for  it  in  the  written 
"Word    diligently,    as    for    hidden    treasures.      In    reading 
-^aul's  ei)istle  to  the  Hebrews,  chapter  vi,  T  found,  "It  is 
impossible  for  those  who  were  once  eidightened  and  have 
tiisted   of   the   heavenly  gift,  and  were  made  partakers  of 
the   Holy  (ihost,  and   have  tasted   of  the  good  Word  of 
(Jod,  and   the  powers   of  the  world   to  come,  if  they  shall 
fall  away,  to  renew  them  again  to  repentance,  seeing  they 
crucify  to  themselves  the  Son  of  God  afresh,  and  j»ut  him 
to  au   open   shame."     Oh,  how   those    words    thrilled    my 
■whole  being!     Again  and  again  they  were  reviewed.     No 
hope!  no  hope  for  a  lost  soul  like  mine!  were  like  burn- 
ing coals  u])on   my  poor  heart.     I  was  ouce   enlightened 
and  tasted  of  the  heavenly  gift ;  but  how  dark  have  been 
these  years.     Oh  I  how  soon  did  the   lamp  of  life  become 
dim  through  disobedience.     I  can  never  again  drink  of  that 
fountain   of  love  that  once  filled  my  soul   to  overflowing. 
But  I  had  fallen  away,  and  could  never  again  be  renewed, 
having  crucified  to  myself  the  8on  of  God  afresh,  and  put 
him  to  an  open  shame,  by  not  honoring  such  a  glorious 
Ilcdeemer,  as  was  my  own  personal  Savior.     O,  what  de- 
lusion !  to  have  indulged  in  the  vain  hope  that  I  was  serv- 
ing him  in  a  silent,  quiet  life,  and  then  cover  over  all  this 
unrest  with  the  idea  that  God  was  too  abundant  in  mercy 
to  cast  off  any  for  whom  he  died  to  save.     Day  and  night 
this  terrible  thought  followed  me  for  montlis,  "I  am  a  lost 
soul !  irretrievably  lost.     No  hope !     Eternally  lost !" 

As  I  had  never  intimated  to  my  dear  companion  the 
vacillating  condition  of  mind,  and  the  effort  in  finding  rest, 


! 


KAUT.Y    J  AVE. 


31 


neither  slioiiM  lie  bo  troubled  witli  tbo  knowledge  that  bis 
wife  was  a  lost  soul;  ueither  sliouM  our  little  ones  on  nr- 
riviii''  to  years  of  religious  understanding  ever  know  that 
their  mother  was  a  lost  soul.  The  nudnight  hour  of'lcu 
witnessed  many  bitter  tears  of  regret  over  the  awful 
thought.  So  near  perfeet  despair,  I  looked  upon  beast, 
bird,  or  even  the  most  loathsome  reptile,  and  grudged 
their  happiness  of  living  and  dying  without  res])onsibility. 
These  sad  forebodings  seriously  aHi'eted  my  health,  and  my 
anxious  husband  and  jmrents  feared  some  serious  disease 
was  preying  upon  me.  I  sometimes  thought  the  sooner  I 
sunk  into  tiie  grave  the  better,  as  my  doom  must  be  met.' 
(),  that  I  eould  but  elaim  the  privilege  of  the  ])r()digal,  in 
returning  to  the  Father's  house,  and  of  being  accepted, 
though  a  great  way  off.  O  that  I  never  had  been  born! 
()  that  1  had  followed  that  loving  Savior's  voice,  so  often 
clearly  heard.  It  is  now  too  late,  too  late!  O  that  1  had 
returned  to  my  first  love  when  within  my  reach.  But  I 
rejected  the  teaching  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  justly  am  I 
now  rejected.  In  this  distressing  des})air  I  opened  a  little 
book — the  Christian  experience  of  one  whose  exercises  of 
mind  traced  through  my  own  experience,  even  to  my  pres- 
ent desj)airing  state,  as  nearly  as  I  could  have  related  it 
in  my  own  words.  Through  the  instrumentality  of  a  sini-i 
ilar  experience  in  another,  who  was  restored  and  was  long  a/ 
useful  Cin-istian,  I  was  ei  juraged  to  return,  and  found* 
the  healing  balm.  Never  can  I  forget  the  thrill  of  joy 
that  ran  through  my  whole  being  as  I  laid  aside  that  little 
book.  I  saw  that  I  had  misapj)rehended  the  meaning  of 
the  passages  of  Scripture  that  seemed  to  descibe  my  condi- 
tion, and  that  served  to  confirm  my  despair.  I  saw  that 
those  referred  to,  had  so  far  fallen,  and  so  often  rejected 
the  Holy  Spirit's  teachings,  as  not  to  realize  their  condi- 
tion, and  therefore  lost  sight  of  the  necessity  of  a  Redeemer. 
This  was  not,  nor  ever  had  been,  my  condition.  Then 
I  read  Esau's  seeking  the  blessing,  **  carefully  with  tears," 


WM 


m 


iiP 


lil!li 


32 


A    WOMAN  S    I.IKi;-\V(»UK. 


11 


m 

•r     ' 


li 

•  , :  i 

¥ 

;' 

i  1i;;j; 

i   'if-:'; 

:sh;SM 


i  I, 


that  I  hail  also  lonu^  (hvolt  upon  as  iiiv  eoiidition.  IToro, 
too,  was  a  vivid  thoii^dit,  that  ho  soiiulit  the  lost  blessing 
to  subservo  self,  instead  of  glorilyinti^  (»od.  Hero  the 
bright  star  of  hope  pierced  through  tiie  cloud.  Is  it  j)os- 
siblc  that  I  can  go  with  conlidenco  to  that  Father  who  has 
.so  long  bcirne  with  this  unbelieving,  doubting,  rebellious 
child?  Why  has  he  not  cut  otfthis  cuniberer  of  the  ground 
long  ago?  His  long-suliering  and  unbounded  mercy,  O 
how  free!  how  inifathoniable!  Witb  nianv  tears  of  irrati- 
tudo,  mingled  with  new  hope,  new  aspirations,  the  bright 
beam  of  day  radiating  from  v^'very  promise,  I  could  now 
fully  accc^pt  the  Lord  Jesus  as  my  mediator  and  restorer. 
]^y  faith,  I  could  fully  trust  tl.o  poor  jn'udigal  in  his  hand. 
O,  what  losses  wc  sustain  through  unbelief.  I  have  felt 
most  oasv  in  leaving  mv  experience  on  record,  as  a  warn- 
ing  to  young  C'hrisjians  to  slum  the  depth  of  despair  into 
which  1  .sink  tlu-ough  unfaithfulness  and  unbelief.  "  By 
yrace  ve  are  saved,  throuirh  faith."  Increasini>:  faith, 
Strength,  and  ])eace,  with  restored  health,  was  my  rich 
/    experience. 


ANTI-SLAVKHY   WORK. 

:  Our  family,  Avith  others,  united  M'ith  Elizabeth  Mar- 
garet Chandler,  who  organized  in  our  neighborhood  the 
first  anti-slavery  society  in  our  State.  This  was  unsatis- 
factory to  the  ruling  portion  of  our  Society,  as  it  had 
cleared  its  skirts  many  years  ago  by  cnuincipating  all 
slaves  within  its  pale.  Elizabeth  M.  Chandler  was  of  the 
Ilicksite  division  of  Friends,  and  as  Presbyterians  and 
other  religious  denominations  c;une  into  our  anti-.slavery 
society,  meetings  were  frequently  opened  with  prayer,  and 
that   was  thought   to   be  "letting  down   the   })rincij)les  of 

.ancient  Friends."  And  the  subject  of  slavery  was  cou- 
'^idered  too  exciting  for  Friends  to  engage  in,  by  many 
t'riends  of  that  day.  I  bigan  to  query  whether  it  would 
not  be  a  relief  to  me,  and  also  to  my  friends,  to  become 
disconnected  with  that  body,  as  I  saw  clearly  my  path  of 


MARLY     1,1  FK. 


r  >•> 


TToro, 

Inv   tlio 
[s  it  jxts- 
who  \\l\A 
ebcllious 
e  grouud 
uoiry,  O 
of  [T rati- 
ne bright 
)iil(l  now 
restorer, 
lis  IkuhI. 
luivc    It'lt 
■!  a  wiuii- 
ipair  into 
f.     "l\y 
iir    faith, 
my  rich 


th  Mar- 
ood   the 
unsatis- 
8   it   had 
iting    aU 
\s  of  tlio 
ans  and 
i-slavery 
yer,  and 
ciples  of 
was  cou- 
)y  many 
it  would 
1  lu'coino 
•  path  of 


(liitv  wouhl  not  1)0  in  aroordancc  with  the  p>norality  of 
our  Society.  Al'tor  niakiiur  it  a  suhjrct  of  earnest  prayer, 
1  hecanic  .settled  a.s  to  the  cour.se  to  pursut',  and  concluded 
to  uuhunlen  my  lieavy  heart  to  my  parents  as  I  had  done 
to  mv  helovcd  Cdinpanion,  which  1  did  after  our  Sidthath 
meeting.  We  minyled  our  tears  together.  Father  referred 
to  the  same  proscribing  sj)irit  they  exercised  over  me  in 
my  early  experience,  that  wa.s  now  exercised  over  them. 
Fatlur  and  mother  wished  me  to  defer  sending  in  my  re- 
quest to  become  disconnected  with  our  Society,  as  they, 
too,  might  think  best  to  pursue  the  same  course.  This 
was  a  sevens  irial  f  u'  each  of  us.  Father  had  been  an 
acknowleilgtHl  minister  of  the  (Jospel  nearly  thirty  years, 
and  mother  oceu[)ied  the  statinii  of  jui  elder  nearly  the 
same  time.  We,  too,  had  become  active  niemi>ers  in  this 
branch  of  the  Christian  Church.  But  the  conclusion  waa 
fully  reached  within  two  months  after  our  little  coid'erenco 
over  this  important  step,  and  the  following  letter  of  resig- 
nation was  sent  to  our  business  meeting: 

"We,  the  undersigned,  (h>  say  there  is  a  diversity  of 
sentiment  existing  in  the  Society  on  the  divine  authority 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  the  resurrection  of  the  dead,  and 
day  of  judgment,  justification  l)y  faitli,  the  eilect  of 
Adam's  fall  upon  his  posterity,  and  the  abolition  of  slavery, 
which  has  caused  a  disunitv  amongst  us;  and  there  beintr 
no  hoi)C  of  a  reconciliation  by  investigation,  ministers  be- 
ing told  by  ruling  ni(Mnb(M-s  that  there  is  to  be  no  other 
test  of  the  soundness  of  their  ministry  but  something  in 
tiieir  own  breasts,  thus  virtually  denying  the  Holy  Sci-ip- 
tares  to  be  the  test  of  doctrine; — we,  therefore,  do  wisji 
([uietly  to  withdraw  from  the  Monthly  Meeting,  and  thus 
resign  our  right  of  membership  with  the  Society  of 
Friends." 

This  resignation  was  signed  by  Daniel  Smith,  Sene 
Smith,  Charles  Ilaviland,  dun.,  Laura  S.  Ilaviland,  lOze- 
kiel  Webb,  Sala  Snuth,  and  fourteen  others.      A  few  re- 


^ 


1       ' 


!!!  \  <\ 


■•'lizv/^x^sr:::^:. 


t     . 


34 


A    VVOMAX  .S   I.IFE-WOUK. 


il': 


I    iC:  !    I 


:  ';: 


r   ! 
Ill  , 
1 1 ,.., 


P  I    :';   I 


'I  I 


Hil'-'i 


;)  1 


in 


I 


turned,  but  the  greater  united  "with  other  Christian  bodies, 
A  few  niouths  niter  this  there  was  a  division  in  tlic  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  on  account  of  slavery.  They 
-were  called  Wesleyan  Methodists.  As  this  branch  of  our 
Father's  family  was  the  nearest  our  own  views,  we  Averc 
soon  united  with  them.  Our  testifications  from  Friends 
Averc  said  by  other  denominations  to  be  suflicicnt  to  be  ac- 
cepted as  Church  letters,  as  our  offenses  named  therein 
were  "non-attendance  of  meetings  f(n*  discipline,  and  at- 
tending mcetin<!:s  not  in  accordance  with  the  order  of  our 
Society."  This  was  the  import  of  nearly  or  quite  all  who 
were  disowned  of  our  company.  At  that  day,  all  were 
dealt  with  as  offenders,  and  were  regularly  disowned,  as 
our  discipline  at  that  time  made  no  provisions  for  with- 
drawals. About  a  vear  after  this,  the  vearlv  meeting  of 
Friends  in  Indiana  divided  on  the  subject  of  slavery.  No 
j  slavery  existed  in  the  society;  yet  its  discussion  was  deemed 
improper,  and  created  disunity  sufiicient  for  severing  that 
body  for  a  number  of  years,  when  they  were  invited  to  re- 
turn, without  the  necessity  of  acknowledgments. 

About  this  time  we  o})ened  a  manual  labor  school  on 
our  premises,  designed  for  indigent  children.  With  that 
object  in  view,  we  took  nine  children  from  our  county 
house  (Lenawee),  and  I  taught  them,  with  our  four  chil- 
dren of  school  age,  four  hours  each  day.  The  balance  of 
the  day  was  divided  f  )r  work  and  play.  Tiic  girls  I  tauglit 
house-work,  sewing,  and  knitting.  The  boys  were  taken 
into  the  farm  work  by  my  husband  and  brother  Harvey 
Smith.  As  our  county  superintendents  of  the  poor  gave 
us  no  aid,  we  found  our  means  insufhcient  to  continue  our 
work  on  this  plane.  After  one  year  of  this  work  we  se- 
cured homes  for  the  nine  children,  exccj)t  two  invalids, 
who  were  returned  to  the  county  house.  We  then  placed 
our  school  on  a  higher  plane,  on  the  Oberlin  i)lan  of  open- 
ing the  school  for  all  of  good  moral  character,  regardless  ot 
sex  or  color.     At  that  day  (1837)  there  was  not  a  school 


\ 


■^"^^asfc 


RAISIN    INSTITUTE. 


;i5 


m  bodies. 

the  :Meth- 

Thev 

eh  of  our 

Ave  were 
I  Friends 

to  be  ac- 
d  therein 
',  and  at- 
ler  of  our 
c  all  "who 

all  were 
owned,  as 

for  with- 
iceting  of 
'ery.  No 
IS  deemed 
•ring  that 
ted  to  rc- 

pcliool  on 

V[{\i  that 

r  county 

our  ohil- 

ilanee  of 

I  tauglit 

>re  taken 

Ilarvov 

lor  gave 

inue  our 

u  we  se- 

invalids, 

n  ])laced 

of  opeu- 

rdless  ot 

a  school 


iu  our  young  State  that  would  ojjcn  its  door  to  a  colored 
person.  And  us  my  brother,  Ilarvcy  Sniiih,  had  attended 
the  Oherlin  Institute,  he  united  "with  us  in  this  enlerjirise, 
and  sold  his  new  farm  of  one  hundred  ami  sixty  acres,  and 
expended  Avhat  he  had  in  erecting  temporary  buildings  to 
accommodate  about  fifty  students.  The  class  of  students 
was  mostly  of  those  designing  to  teach.  Our  princi[)als 
Averc  from  Oberlin  during  the  first  twelve  years  of  the 
"  Kaisin  Institute."  The  first  three  years  it  was  conducted 
bv  V.  P.  Roots  and  his  wife,  Anna  B.,  "who  were  excellent 
Christians.  "When  they  left,  to  open  a  similar  institution 
at  West  Point,  Lee  County,  Iowa,  .^ohn  Patchin  became 
their  successor,  and  conducted  the  scIkjoI  with  equal  ability 
three  years.  After  uniting  iu  marriage  with  a  teacher  in 
Oherlin,  he  was  assisted  by  his  wife.  These  thorouLrh 
teachers  earned  for  our  institute  the  name  of  bi'ing  one 
of  the  best  in  our  State.  Students  were  sought  ibr  teach- 
ers in  our  own  and  adjoining  counties.  Although  our 
abolition  })rinciples  were  very  unpopular  at  that  day,  as 
we  generally  had  from  one  to  three  colored  students  in  our 
school,  yet  the  thorough  discipline  given  in  the  studies  drew 
the  young  people  of  the  l)est  intellect  from  the  surrounding 
country.  There  were  those  who  came  from  fifty  to  one 
hundred  miles  to  pr^'parc  for  teaching  (u-  for  a  collegiate 
course.  Hundreds  of  young  people  who  enjoyed  the  j)riv- 
iloges  our  school  afforded  came  to  us  with  their  prtjudices 
airainst  colored  peoj)le  and  our  position  in  regard  to  them; 
but  the}'  soon  n)'.'lted  away,  and  went  they  knew  not 
where.  It  was  frequently  said  if  we  would  give  up  the 
vexed  abolition  question,  and  let  the  negroes  alone,  Ivaisiu 
Institute  would  become  the  most  popular  school  in  the  State. 
As  a  samjde  of  many  others,  I  will  notice  a  young  lady 
fntm  Jackson  County,  who  was  brought  to  us  by  her  father 
to  become  qualified  for  teaching.  But  her  sensibilities  were 
80  shocked  at  meeting  in  her  granimar-(dass  a  colored  man 
that  she  returned  to  her  room  weeping  over  her  disgrace, 


.  1  f  V 


m 


i 

;l 

i 

j  1 

Ilii 

1 

.  i 

If 

'  1 

1 ' 

'ii! 

'  1 

36 


^•>L. 


A    WOMAN'S   LIFK-WORK. 


HI! 


i!!i.: 


^tm 


and  resolved  to  Avrite  her  father  to  conic  and  take  her 
home  immediately.  But  the  other  youn;^  women  i)er.suaded 
her  to  attend  the  recitations  assigned  her,  when  to  her 
surprise  the  same  young  colored  man  was  in  the  advanced 
arithmetic  class.  And  while  impatiently  waiting  for  her 
father  to  come  and  take  her  from  this  "nigger  school"  (as 
she  and  many  others  called  it),  a  letter  came  from  liim 
advising  her  to  remain,  as  ho  had  expended  so  much  in 
fitting  her  for  tw'o  or  three  terms  then; ;  although  if  he 
had  known  tliat  a  negro  would  have  been  allowed  to  attend 
her  class  he  would  not  have  taken  her  there.  She  soon 
hecame  reconciled,  and  before  a  lialf-term  closed,  when  she 
tliieatened  to  leave  at  all  events  (as  slie  read  her  father's 
letter),  she  came  to  that  colored  man  to  assist  her  in  intri- 
cate parsing  lessons.  Before  the  close  of  the  first  term  she 
as  frequently  applied  to  James  Martin,  her  colored  class- 
mate, for  assistance  in  solving  difficult  problems  in  mathe- 
matics as  to  any  of  the  others.  She  was  one  of  our  best 
students;  but  this  deep-rooted  j)rejudice  went,  she  knew 
not  how,  as  with  very  many  others. 
\  As  to   religious   privileges   in  our  school,  our  pra3'er- 

1  meetings  were  held  bi-weekly,  Sabbath  and  Wednesday 
evenings,  and  ministers  of  various  denominations  fre(jucntly 

I  appointed  meetings  in  our  school  on  the  Sabbath.  While 
the  Rev.  John  Patchin  had  charge  of  the  institution  he 
generally  preached  Sabbath  evening,  instead  of  the  prayer- 
meeting. 

In  the  third  year  of  our  school  our  two  older  sous  made 
a  profession  of  religicm,  with  a  nund)er  of  other  students, 
which  was  cause  of  great  rejoicing.  Surely,  we  were 
blessed  above  measure.  Within  two  years  after  we  were 
blessed  with  another  shower  of  divine  favor  in  the  conver- 
sion of  our  two  older  daughters.  Not  unfrequently  were 
these  four  children's  voices  uplifted  in  vocal  supplication  at 
the  family  altar.  We  were  surely  rejjaid  more  than  a 
hundred-fold  for  all  our  toiling,  ami  heavy  burdens  borne 


\>  'ill' 


RAISIN    INSTITUTE. 


37 


take  her 

)ersiuulcd 

u   to   her 

advauced 

■^  for  her 

hool"  (as 

roin  him 

niut'h  in 

igh  if  he 

to  attend 

She  soon 

when  she 

r  father's 

'  in  intri- 

terni  she 

red  elass- 

in  mathe- 

our  best 

he  knew 


in  f)iinding  Rai.^in  Institute.  As  the  fleeing  fugitive  ever 
found  a  re.>^ting-phiee  and  cheer  in  our  home,  we  ricldy 
earned  the  cognomen  of  "  nigger  den;"  yet  Ii(-aven  smiled 
and  blessed  our  work.  We  had  many  sympatiii/ing  friends 
in  the  Society  from  which  we  were  disconnected  as  mcm- 
l)ers,  even  with  those  wlio  had  deemed  us  too  radical. 
There  was  unity  with  us  in  our  work  that  brought  us  to- 
gether iu  after  years. 


ft 


pra3'er- 
Inesday 
■e(|uently 
While 
tion   he 
prayer- 
US  made 
tudents, 
>\Q  were 
\\Q  were 
conver. 
ly  were 
ation  at 
than   a 
3  borne 


f     '  i' 


38 


Ik-' 


A   WOMAN'S   LIFE-WOIIK. 


tl 


'!;i 


Chapter  II. 

BEREAVE  xMENTS. 

Our  last  chapter  left  us  rejoicing  in  success,  but  how 
soon  did  deepest  sorrow  take  its  i)hice.  A  dream  seemed 
sent  to  prepare  me  for  the  severe  ordeal  so  near  at  iiand. 
I  thought  I  was  standing  in  our  front  yard  looking  east- 
Avard,  and  an  augel  s'tting  on  a  bay  horse  appeared  in  the 
place  of  the  su-  J:*)iv,,  coming  to  earth  on  some  mission, 
illidinir  over  the  tn  '  .  s  toward  our  house,  where  Avero 
fiither,  mother,  my  sisltr  PlMBbe,  and  my  husband,  who 
held  in  his  arms  oh.  Mttlo  babe.  I  started  to  inform  them 
that  ail  angel  was  comiu-  to  ta  ti)  ">n  some  errand,  when 
his  advance  was  so  rajnd  I  was  likely  to  lose  sight  of  him, 
and  halted  to  watch  his  flijijht.  lie  seemed  to  ali<:ht  in 
our  yard  near  me,  and  smiled  as  ho  said,  "Follow  thou 
me."  "I  will,"  I  responded,  as  soon  as  I  bid  Charles  and 
our  folks  farewell.  The  beautiful  personage  assumed  a 
firmer  tone,  as  he  said,  "Let  the  dead  bury  their  dead,  but 
follow  thou  me."  At  this  command  I  responded,  "I  will," 
and  followed  him  to  the  graveyard,  where  he  left  me.  And 
I  awoke  with  that  angelic  figure,  with  that  sweet,  yet  sol- 
emn, voice  ringing  in  my  ear. 

I  related  the  dream,  with  its  clear  impression  in  my 
mind,  to  my  husband,  who  replied,  "That  is  a  significant 
dream,  and  I  think  indicates  death.  I  think  we  shall  bo 
called  to  part  with  our  infant  daughter  Lavina;  and  it  is 
quite  evident  that  consumpti(m  is  fast  hastening  our  sister 
riicebe  to  her  long  home."  She  was  my  own  sister,  who 
married  my  husband's  brother,  Daniel  Ilaviland.  He 
continued  his  remarks,  by  making  suggestiojis  as  lo  the 
course  we  would  feel  it  best  to  pursue  about  a  buryiug- 


tl 


A   SIGNIFICANT   DilEAM. 


39 


^t  sol- 

1  my 

111  be 

it  is 

-istor 

who 

Uv. 

the 


I 


place  f(ir  our  little  (laughter,  in  case  of  a  refusal  of  Friends 
to  allow  a  plain  marble  slab,  witli  her  name  and  date  of 
birth  and  death  in  their  burying-ground ;  and  suggested 
the  corner  of  our  orchard  as  a  pleasant  place,  to  which  I 
assented.  After  spending  half  an  hour  in  this  conversa- 
tion, he  went  out  to  his  work.  I  prayed  for  my  Havior's 
hand  to  lead  me  iu  whatever  trial  it  was  necessary  for  me 
to  pass  tiu-ough. 

Little  did  I  think  of  the  heavier  stroke  which  was 
first  to  fall.  A  few  days  after  this  dream  I  was  charging 
myself  with  being  visionary;  yet  a  few  of  these  most  im- 
j)ressive  dreams,  I  believe,  have  been  designed  for  our 
instruction.  My  husband  was  seized  with  a  heavy  cold, 
ai'companied  by  a  severe  cough,  that  was  increasing;  yet 
he  was  able  to  be  about  the  house  and  barn,  giving  direc- 
tions, as  to  outdoor  work,  but  nothing  appeared  alarming, 
when  I  was  aroused  by  a  startling  dream  of  a  coffin  l)eing 
Irought  into  our  front  room  by  four  men,  of  whom  I 
iii(|uired  Avho  was  dead.  The  answer  was,  "A  connection 
of  yours."  "I  want  to  see  him,  for  that  coflin  ai)pears  to 
be  for  a  small  man,"  was  my  reply.  "He  is  a  small 
iiiun,"  was  the  rejoinder,  "and  you  shall  see  him."  Upon 
this,  the  closed  coffin  was  brought  to  me,  and  I  arose  and 
followed  the  pall-bearers  to  the  graveyard.  As  the  people 
were  sfanding  around  the  open  grave  to  see  the  coffin 
lowered,  I  saw  a  little  child  standing  on  the  very  edge  of 
the  grave  opposite  to  me.  I  exclaimed,  "Do  take  that 
child  away,  for  it  will  cave  into  the  grave  after  its  father!"' 
At  that  instant  the  light  sand  under  its  feet  gave  way, 
and,  as  it  struck  the  coffin,  the  loud,  hollow  sound  awoke 
nie,  trembling  as  with  a  fit  of  ague,  and  with  the  strong 
impression  that  I  was  soon  to  ])art  with  my  beloved  com- 
panion and  infant  daughter,  although  both  were  sweetly 
sleeping  by  my  side.  With  this  thrill  through  my  whole 
being,  I  resorted  to  ])rayer  for  their  restoration  to  health, 
if  consistent  with  the  divine  will. 


P 


I 


ft 


m 


f 


1    '}- 


tl '  I  It  I 


I  !i!;;iiiiil 


40 


A    WOMAN  S    LIFK-WOIIK. 


Ill 


|jf 


i!!''; 

!iii!! 


k 


Although  my  husb'iuul  liad  enjoyed  good  health  a  num- 
ber of  years,  and  had  not  for  seven  years  ])reviously  called 
upon  a  physician,  yet  I  now  resolved  to  persuade  hitn  to  call 
for  one  at  once.  As  the  clock  struck  four,  and  as  I  was 
leaving  the  bed  to  light  the  fire,  my  husband  awoke,  and 
said  he  had  enjoyed  the  most  refreshing  sleep  he  had  had 
since  taking  this  cold,  and  felt  so  well  he  thought  he  soon 
should  1)0  rid  of  it.  Whenever  I  spoke  the  chattering  of 
my  teeth  reveale  1  my  agitation,  and  he  expressed  fear  lest 
I  should  be  ill  from  the  hard  chill.  But  little  did  he 
understand  the  ui)heavings  of  my  troubled  heart.  Soon  a 
severe  paroxysm  of  coughing  gave  the  opportunity  to  sug- 
gest the  idea  of  sending  for  a  physician.  At  length  he 
consented,  as  he  said,  to  please  me,  as  he  thought  this 
cough  would  soon  give  way.  But  while  I  went  to  our 
boy's  study-room  to  awaken  our  son  Harvey  to  go  for  the 
doctor,  a  severe  pain  in  the  region  of  the  lungs  was 
cutting  every  breath. 

The  doctor  was  soon  with  us,  but  he  thought  there 
were  no  discouraging  symptoms  apparent.  I  sent  for  Fa- 
ther Haviland,  who  also  thought,  as  did  the  doctor,  that  I 
■was  unreasonably  troul)Icd ;  but  during  the  following  night 
he  expressed  doubts  of  recovery  himself,  and  re(jucsted  his 
%vill  to  be  written,  which  was  done.  As  his  fever  increased, 
great  eff()rt  was  made  to  control  our  feelings  in  his  pres- 
ence. At  one  time,  as  he  awoke,  he  discovered  fast-falling 
tears,  and  said:  ''Do  not  weep  for  me,  my  dear  wife;  re- 
member those  beautiful  lines : 

'  God  moves  in  mysterious  way, 
Ills  wonders  to  perform.' 
We  are  uot  to 

'  Ju'ltre  the  Lord  by  feeble  sense, 
But  trust  him  for  his  prace ; 
Boliiud  a  frownin;;;  providence 
He  hides  a  smiling  face.' 

Our  separation  will  be  short  at  longest.     Then  we  shall  be 
reunited  where  there  is  uo  sorrow — no  more  dying — in  that 


■|:i! 


>! 

w 


I 


IS 


DEATH   OF    HUSBAND. 


41 


h  a  num- 

"ily  called 

iin  to  call 

as  I  was 

oke,  and 

had  hud 

t  he  soon 

ttering  of 

fear  lest 

e  did    he 

Soon  a 

ty  to  sug- 

ength  he 

ught  this 

it  to  our 

)  for  the 


luigs  was 


ht  there 
for  Fa- 
)r,  that  I 
iug  night 

osted  his 
ncreased, 

his  y)rcs- 
list-falling 
wife ;  ro- 


shall  he 
— in  thai 


t 


■St 

'■M 


"•lorions  home.  Two  days  ago  there  seemed  a  little  cloud  ; 
hut  prayer  was  answered,  and  the  cloud  was  all  removed. 
The  overshadowing  now  is  that  of  peace  and  love."  lie 
called  for  the  chihh-cn.  Looking  upon  us  all,  he  said,  "(), 
how  dear  vou  all  are  to  me !"  Calling  each  hv  name,  ho 
gave  advice  and  exhortations  as  none  hut  a  departing  luis- 
])and  and  father  could  leave  with  his  familv — a  Icgacv  more 
j)recious  than  all  the  golden  treasures  of  earth.  Then  he, 
added:  "I  want  you,  my  dear  children,  to  jiromise  mo 
that  you  will  meet  your  father  in  heaven.  AVill  you  meet 
me  there?"  Taking  our  little  hahe  in  his  arms,  he  ki.s.«ed 
her,  and  said,  "  Dear  little  Lavina  will  soon  he  with  her 
father,"  and  closed  with  the  prayer:  "O  Lord,  I  commit 
my  dear  wife  and  children  into  thy  hands.  Thou  art  the 
widow's  God,  and  a  loving  Father  to  fatherless  children." 
The  words  of  the  dying  Christian,  heginning 

"What's  that  steals,  tliat  steals  upon  my  frame? 
Is  it  death-  is  it  death?" 

were  sung  hy  his  hedside,  and  as  the  last  line, 

"All  is  well— all  is  well," 

was  reached,  he  raised  his  hands,  and  repeated,  "  O,  hal- 
lelujah to  the  Lamh !"  Then,  turning  to  me,  ]\o  added, 
"  My  dear,  I  want  these  lines  sung  at  my  fuiuM-al."  His 
last  words  were,  "Come,  Lord  Jesus,  thy  servant  is  ready," 
and  with  a  sweet  smile  his  happy  spirit  was  wafted  home, 
.^lairh  13,  1X45. 

His  disease  was  inflammatory  erysipelas,  at  that  time 
entirely  new,  and  not  understood  hv  our  physicians.  It 
])as>ed  through  our  portion  of  the  State,  a  sweeping  epi- 
demic, in  the  Spring  of  1845,  and  proved  fatal  in  most 
cases,  ^[y  dear  mother,  who  ■was  with  us  during  this  week 
of  sorrow,  was  taken  home  with  the  same  disease,  and  in  one 
week  her  happy  spirit  took  its  flight  to  God  who  gave  it. 
She,  too,  left  us  in  the  triumphs  of  faith.  She  had  not 
left  us  an  hour  before  brother  Daniel  came  for  me  to  go 

4 


1 


mm 

mm 


ji  i 


1 


^  mm 


\]'\r 


s 


42 


^.>, 


A  WOMAN'S   LIFE-WORK. 


II; 


to  his  (lying  nifo,  as  slm  was  calling  for  mother,  and  ho  did 
not  dare  inform  her  that  mother  was  dangerously  ilh  I 
took  my  little  emaciated  habe  upon  a  pillow,  and  went  to 
my  dear  sister,  wiio  was  so  soon  to  leave  us.  Her  first 
query  was,  "  How  is  our  dear  mother?" 

"  Mother  is  a  luqjpy  spirit  in  heaven,"  was  the  reply, 
"and  sister  Phoohc  will  soon  meet  her  there." 

Her  reply  was:  "It  is  Avell;  but  I  had  hoped  to  meet 
lier  once  more  in  this  world — yet  we'll  soon  meet,  to  part 
no  more  forever.  She  soon  followed  brother  Charles;  hut 
I  trust  we  will  all  meet  one  day,  an  nidjrokcn  band.  O 
liow  I  wish  I  could  see  brother  Ira!"  an  absent  brother 
for  whom  she  had  often  expressed  great  anxiety  iu  regard 
to  his  spiritual  and  everlasting  welfare. 

The  same  burden  of  soul  for  the  same  brother  had  also 
rested  on  the  heart  of  our  sainted  mother,  whose  funeral  took 
place  two  days  later.  AVithiu  one  week  sister  Phccbe  died  in 
peace.     Here  was  the  third  wave  of  sorrow  rolling  over  us. 

From  this  house  of  mourning  I  was  removed  to  my 
home  with  the  same  disease  that  had  taken  my  husband 
and  mother;  and  a  nund)er  of  our  neighbors  were  going 
the  same  Avay.  My  father  and  father-in-law  thought  me 
dangerously  ill — chills  and  ll-ver,  with  stricture  of  the 
lungs,  that  made  respiration  painful.  They  were  very 
anxious  to  have  the  best  help  that  could  be  obtained  at 
once;  "for,"  said  father,  "what  is  done  for  thee  must  be 
done  quickly."  I  told  him  that  every  one  Avho  had  been 
taken  with  this  disease  had  died,  as  physicians  of  each 
school  did  not  understand  it.  But  I  would  return  to  my 
lionie,  as  they  suggested  ;  but  felt  most  easy  to  trust  my- 
self with  water  treatment,  and  would  like  to  take  a  shower- 
bath  every  two  hours,  and  try  that  treatment  twelve  hours. 
This  was  done,  and  every  bath  brought  relief  to  respira- 
tion, and  my  lungs  became  entirely  free,  though  my  neck 
and  throat  were  still  badly  swollen  and  inflamed.  Cold 
applications,  frequently  applied,  soon  overcame  that  diffi- 


A    cmTrfAL  MOMKNT. 


[:\ 


■'9 


ciillv,  aud  in  three  days  the  disease  seemed  entirely  con- 
(jiK  red. 

A  relapse  from  lakiiig  cold,  however,  tlirew  mo  into  a 
stupor;  l)ut  I  was  aroused  l)y  an  expression  of  a  neighhor, 
;is  he  said:  "She  in  nut  conscious,  and  never  will  be,  un- 
h'ss  soinething  is  done;  and  if  she  were  a  sister  of  mine  a 
(Idctor  would  be  here  as  soon  as  I  couhl  bring  him." 

"  I  will  see  if  I  can  get  an  exi)ression  from  her,"  said 
my  brother  Harvey. 

"  If  we  can  only  learn  mother's  wish  it  shall  be  granted," 
Slid  my  anxious  son  Ilarvev. 

As  T  heard  their  remarks  a  strong  impression  came  over 
me  that  if  1  were  jilaced  in  charge  of  a  physician  I  should 
not  live  two  days,  but  if  I  could  tell  them  to  shower  my  head 
and  neck  often  I  would  recover.  As  I  looked  upon  my 
anxious  fatherless  children  around  my  bed  I  made  an  effort 
to  speak,  but  my  parched  and  swollen  tongue  could  not  for 
some  time  utter  a  W(jrd.  The  answer  to  earnest  j^rayer 
canio  from  Him  who  luunbers  even  the  very  hairs  of  our 
head.  As  my  ])rother  took  my  hand,  saying,  "If  you  wish 
a  physician  ])ress  my  hand,  or  if  you  Avish  water  treatment 
move  your  head  on  the  pillow,"  I  could  not  move  my  head 
in  the  least,  and  my  oidy  hope  was  to  say  no.  "When 
asked  if  I  wished  a  doctor  sent  for,  I  prayed  that  my  tongue 
mi;.dit  utter  words  of  direction  for  the  sake  of  my  father- 
kss  eliildren,  and  said,  "Xo." 

"Do  you  want  cold  compresses,  or  shall  we  gently 
sliower  over  a  thin  cloth  on  the  swollen  and  inflamed  por- 
tion of  your  neck  and  head?" 

"Shower." 

"Cold  or  tepid?" 

"Well" 

"If  you  mean  well-water,  how  much?" 

"  Big  pitcher." 

"How  often?" 

"Twenty  minutes." 


4 


ii-r 


.^iir-4i 


;i5' 


'"% 


44 


A  woman's  lifk-wouk. 


ill'iiitiiii! 

;        I, It    I 


Said  my  pon  Ilarvoy,  '*It  .shall  bo  done,  if  I  sit  by  her 
every  iiiiniiU'  to-nijrlit." 

J  il'lL  a  })<».sitivi;  iiii])rossi()ii  that  my  Ilcavonly  Father 
Imd  aiiHwered  my  prayer  dinictly,  and  granted  an  assur- 
ance, in  the  token  of  recovery,  and  I  j)rairiod  the  Lord  for 
lii.s  "loving  kindness,  O,  how  free."  With  this  assuraueo 
I  fell  back  iu  a  .stu})()r,  exee])t  a  dreamy  consciousness  of 
their  showering,  which  was  faitlifully  done,  with  the  assis- 
tance of  my  brother.  At  twelve  o'clock  I  awoke,  and  in- 
(juircd  where  all  the  people  were  that  filled  the  room  a 
little  while  before,  and  Avas  surprised  to  learn  the  hour  of 
night.  They  said,  as  my  breathing  became  more  natural, 
the  neighbors  had  left  and  the  children  retired.  I  could 
speak  easily,  and  the  ])urple  appearance  of  the  skin  had 
disappeared.  In  the  morning  the  pain  was  entirely  gone, 
but  the  .soreness  was  still  severe.  l>ut  with  frequent 
changes  of  compresses  diu'ing  the  day,  the  swelling  very 
much  subsided.  I  wondered  why  father  did  not  come,  as 
he  had  not  been  to  see  me  since  sister  Pluebe's  funeral. 
My  brother  informed  me  that  he  had  a  chill  during  the 
funeral,  and  had  not  been  able  to  leave.  As  he  had  a 
few  fits  of  the  ague  some  weeks  previously,  I  supposed  it 
was  a  return  of  that  disease.  The  day  following  brother 
Sala  came,  and  in  reply  to  my  inquiry  after  my  father, 
said  he  was  no  better,  but  sent  me  a  request  to  be  very 
careful  of  myself,  and  hoped  I  would  soon  recover,  and 
left  in  seeming  haste  to  see  brother  Patchin.  But  I  sent 
for  him  to  come  and  tell  me  more  about  father.  He  soon 
came  with  brother  Patchin  and  brother  Dolbeare.  He  then 
told  me  that  father  had  the  same  disease  that  had  taken 
my  husband  and  (»ur  mother,  and  he  also  said  that  it  was 
father's  request  that  for  the  sake  of  my  large  family  of 
children,  who  were  recently  bereft  of  their  fiither,  that  I 
would  give  up  the  idea  of  coming  to  see  him. 

But  I  could  not  be  satisfied  without  going  to  see  my 
dear  father  once  more,  and  yet,  the  pleading  of  my  dear 


Ii!» 


MY    DYIXr;     FATHKU. 


46 


L  by  her 

Fatlior 
11  assur- 
Lord  for 
s.suniiu'0 
i,«<ness  of 
lie  ussis- 
aiul  ill- 
room  a 
hour  of 
natural, 
I  could 
kin   had 
'ly  gone, 
frequent 
ing  very 
oiuc,  as 
funeral. 
rin<f    the 
le  had  a 
iposed  it 
brother 
'  father, 
1)0  very 
^'er,  and 
it  I  sent 
EIc  soon 
[Ic  then 
[I   taken 
It  it  was 
[mily  of 
I,  that  I 

see  my 
iny  dear 


1 
I 


cliildren  was  almost  too  much  to  forego.  "We  have  jusit 
lost  our  father;  now  what  should  we  do  if  our  mother 
.-hoiild  he  taken  from  us?"  "  Jiut  if  I  am  rolled  in  (juihs  and 
laid  (111  a  hed  in  the  wagon,  I  am  eoiifKU'iil  I  can  he  taken 
to  father's  house  safely" — distant  nearly  three  niilos.  In 
'••  vay  I  was  taken  to  my  <lyiiig  father,  though  unahle 

tvalk  across  the  room  without  assistance.  As  soon  as 
he  Icnnicd  of  my  coming,  he  directed  them  to  lay  me  on 
the  l)('d  until  I  was  rested.  In  a  few  minutes  he  sent  them 
to  hring  me  to  him.  As  my  son  and  brother  led  me  to 
his  hcilslde,  he  placed  the  cold  [)urple  fingers  over  my 
jnilsc,  and  said,  "I  am  so  glad  to  see  thee,  but  I  feared  it 
WDuId  be  too  much  for  thee  to  bear.  There  is  a  little 
feverish  excitement  about  thee  yet.  I  am  more  concerned 
f  >r  thee  than  Ibr  the  rest  of  my  children,  on  account  of 
tliy  large  family,  that  will  so  much  need  their  mother's 
coinisel  ami  care.  I  want  to  say  to  thee,  Look  up  to  the 
\  '  low's  (1(1(1  for  guidance,  for  wisdom  from  him  is  so  much 

'jd,  with  the  heavy  resi)onsibilitics  now  resting  upon 
I..  .  Do  not  allow  these  bereavements  to  crush  thy  feeble 
frame.  I  have  feared  they  had  already  seriously  aflccted 
thy  health.  I  know  thy  anxiety  to  bring  up  thy  children 
ill  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord.  And  he  will 
grant  ability  to  lead  them  to  the  Lamb  of  God,  who  shed 
his  precious  blood  for  us  all."  With  other  advice,  he  be- 
came weary,  and  said,  *'  Now  take  her  back  to  the  other 
room,  and  lay  her  on  the  bed  until  rested."  And  during 
the  few  hours  he  lived  he  frequently  sent  for  me  to  talk  a 
few  niimites  at  a  time,  watching  my  pulse  each  time,  until 
within  a  few  moments  of  the  last  farewell  to  earth. 

There  were  six  of  his  children  present,  to  whom  he 
gave  his  farewell  blessing,  leaving  a  bright  evidence  that 


i     all  was  well  with  him.     "I 


n  me 


there 


is  no  men 


t.     I 


am 


fully  trusting  in  the  merit  of  my  crucified  Savior,  who 
shed  his  own  precious  blood  for  my  redemption.  I  can 
say  with  Job,  'I  know  that  my  Redeemer  lives,'  and  be- 


m 


■ppf 


46 


A    WOMAN'S    JJFK-WOUK. 


f    i 


("iiiili 


M 


m 


i    ' 


cause  lie  lives  I  .shall  live  also."  His  last  words,  almost 
"with  his  last  hrcath,  were,  "Here  she  comes,"  and  left 
this  tabernacle  for  the  ])uilding  not  made  Avith  hands,  eter- 
nal iu  the  heavens.  Father  and  mother  were  lovely  in  tlieir 
lives,  and  iu  their  death  were  only  two  weeks  divided. 
It  seemed  that  my  last  earthly  j^rop  was  gone.  Three 
weeks  later  my  youngest  child  followed  her  father  and 
grandparents  to  the  spirit  home.  Within  six  weeks,  five 
of  my  nearest  and  dearest  ones  were  taken  from  me. 

There  was  hardly  a  family  within  two  miles  of  us  hut 
"was  bereft  of  one  or  two  loved  ones  by  tliis  epidemic. 
Five  widows  (myself  included)  at  one  time  were  standing 
around  the  death-bed  of  a  near  neighbor.  Our  female 
principal  at  that  time,  Emily  Galpin,  was  taken  with  this 
epidemic,  and  died  after  three  days'  illness.  A  few  hours 
previous  to  her  death  she  requested  a  season  of  prayer,  iu 
which  her  husband,  Rev.  Charles  Galpin,  led.  Her  pros- 
pect was  bright,  and,  clearly  foreseeing  the  ransomed  throng 
she  was  soon  to  join,  said  she,  "Oh!  hew  vain,  how  transi- 
tory, does  all  earthly  treasure  appear  at  this  hour — a 
mere  bubble  upon  the  water."  About  a  half  an  hour  be- 
fore she  left  us,  she  said,  "Hark!  don't  you  hear  that 
beautiful  music?  Oh!  what  music;  I  never  heard  any- 
thing like  it!  Do  n't  you  hear  it?"  "  No,  we  do  not  hear 
it."  Being  in  an  ecstacy,  she  exclaimed,  "Look  at  that 
heavenly  choir.  Do  n't  you  see  them  ?  Do  n't  you  hear 
that  sweetest  of  all  music?"  "We  do  not  see  them  nor 
hear  them."  "  There — they  have  left."  A  few  minutes 
before  her  happy  spirit  took  its  fiight,  she  again  looked  up 
very  earnestly.  "  There  they  are  again.  Oh,  how  sweet! 
how  beautiful!"  And  taking  leave  of  her  husband  and 
two  children,  sister  and  brother-indaw,  and  of  all  present, 
committing  her  dear  ones  to  tlie  keeping  of  the  .^iord  Jesus, 
with  the  request  that  the  two  lines, 

"Rock  of  Afics,  cleft  for  me, 
Let  me  hide  myself  iu  thee," 


nU.SIXESS     EM  BARR  ASSM  EXTS. 


47 


five 


1)C  placed  upon  llio  marble  slab  to  mark  her  resting  place, 
slie  fell  a.^leep  in  JeMl«. 

Such  fatality  never  before,  nor  since,  visited  Ilaisiu  as 
in  1845.  In  those  days  of  sorrow  commingled  with  the 
rest  of  faith,  that  brought  ])eace  and  joy  even  in  afHio 
tidu,  my  ouly  relianee  was  the  widow's  God,  for  wisdom  I 
so  much  needed  in  the  double  responsibilities  now  rcstiug 
ui"»ii  me. 

After  the  death  of  my  sweet  babe,  twenty-two  months 
of  age,  and  my  restoration  to  health,  I  looked  over  amounts 
nf  indtii  t<  dness  with  dates  when  due.  I  made  an  e^timato 
(if  costs  •)f  harvesting  and  marketing  the  twenty  acres  of 
wheat  and  other  grains,  and  what  must  be  retained  for 
family  use  ;  and  found  I  would  be  able  to  reach  only  about 
half  the  amount  due  the  following  Autumn.  I  called  on 
all  our  creditors  within  reach  to  inform  them  of  proba- 
bilities, unless  I  could  find  sale  for  a  portion  of  the  stock. 
But  none  of  the  creditors  wanted  anv  of  it.  Said  one, 
to  whom  the  largest  amount  was  due,  "You  do  not  think 
of  taking  your  husband's  business  and  carrying  it  forward, 
do  you?"  I  replied,  "I  thought  of  trying  to  do  the  l)est 
r  cduld  with  it.  With  a  look  of  surprise,  he  said  firmly, 
"  You  are  very  much  mistaken,  Mrs,  Ilaviland;  you  can  not 
do  any  such  thing;  you  had  much  better  appoint  some  man 
in  whom  you  have  confidence  to  transact  your  business  for 
you."  I  informed  him  I  had  seven  minor  children  left 
mo,  and  I  found  seven  hundred  dollars  of  imlebtedness, 
and  it  would  cost  money  to  hire  an  agent.  Then,  I  ought 
to  know  just  where  I  stand,  to  enable  me  to  look  closely 
to  exponditinvs.  "Well,  you  can  try  it,  but  you'll  find 
your  mistake  before  six  months  have  passed,  and  you'll  see 
you  had  better  have  taken  my  advice."  I  knew  I  was  not 
accustomed  to  business  of  this  sort.  All  the  other  cred- 
itors whom  I  had  seen  spoke  very  kindly.  Although  these 
words  were  not  unkindly  spoken,  yet  they  were  saddening 
ti  my  already  sad  heart. 


m 


I'M'  \] 


lt'i^}»3 


^u 


'M 


it;    :  i  '? 


'    i 


;i -;•:?'! 


48 


A  woman's  life-work. 


I  was  too  timid  to  go  to  tlic  probate  judge  with  any 
sort  of  ease  for  instructiou.  Iii  looking  around  nie  for 
some  female  friend  to  accompany  me,  I  could  find  but  very 
few  who  were  not  undergoing  like  trials  with  myself,  conse- 
quently I  must  submit  to  these  new  experiences,  as  what- 
ever was  right  for  rae  to  do  was  proper.  I  depended  upon 
an  allwise  guiding  Hand,  who  is  ever  ready  to  reach 
it  forth  to  the  trusting  child.  I  wrote  to  one,  a  few 
miles  distant,  to  whom  was  due  eiglity  dollars  the  ensuing 
Fall,  that  forty  dollars  Avould  ])e  all  1  should  be  able  to 
meet.  He  called  in  a  few  days,  and  introduced  himself 
saying  that  he  had  received  a  statement  from  me  that  I 
coukl  only  pay  him  the  conung  Fall  fifty  per  cent  on  the 
eighty-dollar  note  he  held  against  my  husband.  8aid  he, 
in  a  lun-ried  manner,  "I  called  to  let  you  know  that  I 
mud  Jutve  it  all  when  it  is  <lue,  as  I  have  a  i)aymeut  to 
make  on  my  farm  at  that  time,  and  I  have  depended  on 
tliat."  I  told  him  I  would  gladly  pay  him  every  penny  of 
it  the  coming  Fall,  but  it  would  be  imjxissible,  as  there 
were  other  demands  equally  pressing.  "  Very  well,  that  is 
all  I  have  to  say,  madam ;  I  can  not  accei)t  any  such 
arrangement;  I  shall  put  in  a  way  to  bring  it.     Good-by.' 

He  left  in  haste  for  me  to  ponder  all  these  things 
over,  in  doubts  as  to  my  ability  to  meet  all  these  rough 
places  of  outside  life.  Perhaps  I  had  be.ter  leave  this 
business  with  some  man  to  deal  with  men.  But  prayer  to 
the  widow's  Go  I  and  comforting  promises  were  my  com- 
panions. Here  N'^s  my  only  refuge  and  shelter  in  these 
storms.  As  I  retired  with  a  burdened  heart,  that  I  was 
endeavoring  to  cast  at  the  feet  of  my  Savior,  the  widow's 
burden-bearer,  T  iiad  a  sweet  dream  of  an  angelic  host,  that 
filled  my  room  with  a  halo  of  glory,  settled  on  every  face, 
and  those  nearest  my  hvd  api)eared  in  the  form  of  persons 
dressed  in  beautiful  attire;  others  were  sweet  faces  that 
looked  upon  me  with  smiles  of  peace.  As  one  took  my  hand, 
a  familiar  feeling  sprang  up,  that  gave  me  confidence  t«» 


I'UAYEll    ANSWEUED. 


49 


a>k  for  the  nanio.  "My  name  is  Supporter."  And  look- 
inir  at  the  one  standing  near,  "And  what  is  lii.s  name'/" 
'•That  is  a  woman,  and  her  name  is  Influeneer-ot-hearts." 
Pointing  to  another  still  more  glorious  in  appearance, 
"And  who  is  that  one?"  "That  is  Seareher-of'-hcarts." 
"Then  vou  all  l)ear  the  name  of  your  missions  to  earth, 
,lo  you?"  "We  do,"  replied  Supporter.  As  I  h)oked 
(iver  this  host  that  fdled  my  room  I  burst  into  a  Hood  of 
tears  for  joy.  I  exclaimed,  "Oh!  what  missions  are  yours! 
SI)  many  wayward  hearts  to  influence,  so  much  of  sin  and 
wickedness  that  reigns  in  this  world  to  search  out."  At 
this  said  Searciier-of  hearts,  "Support  her,  for  she  needs 
it."  "I  do,"  and  he  reached  for  my  other  han<l,  and  as 
l)oth  of  my  hands  were  held  l)y  Supj)orter,  I  realized  a 
wave  of  strength  to  pass  over  me,  fdling  my  soul.  I  awoke 
in  an  ecstacy.  Yes,  I  will  cast  my  care  ou  Jesus  and  not 
forget  to  pray.  Calm  and  sweet  was  this  confidence  in 
being  cared  for,  and  supported  by  an  almighty  arm. 

A  few  days  after  I  saw  the-*  exacting  man  coming 
through  my  gate,  which,  for  a  moment,  caused  a  dread  ;  . 
but  the  second  thought  was,  all,  all  is  with  my  Savior.  I 
mot  him  with  the  usual  greeting,  and  said,  "You  have 
called  to  see  about  that  claim  you  have  against  me." 
"Yes,  I  have  called  to  inform  you  that  I  shall  not  want 
any  tiling  from  you  next  Fall,  and  perhai)s  shall  not  want 
more  than  half  next  year,  as  I  have  received  one  hundred 
dollars  that  I  had  supposed  was  lost,  and  as  I  was  coming 
within  two  nules  I  thought  I  would  call  and  let  you  know 
of  my  conclusion."  While  I  thanked  him  for  the  favor, 
secret  praise  ascended  to  Him  who  melts  away  the  mount- 
ain that  seems  impassable,  making  a  Avay  where  there 
seemed  no  way. 

This  may  seem  a  small  mister,  but  for  mo  at  that  time     o) 
it  was  a  reason  for  rejoicing  at  this  unexpected  turn  of  af- 
fairs.    It  was  but  one  of  many  similar  ?^ases,  and   none 
can  more  fully  realize  the  blessing  of  these  reliefs  ihau  the 


5 


^^* 


■m 


'  '"l 


^■ 


if-  '  ''-l 


Mil 


'Wh 


50 


A  woman's  ijfe-wouk. 


"k 


! 


widow  of  nearly  twoscoro  yours,  wlio  never  previous  to 
AvidowluKxl  knew  the  l)iinlen  of  outside  work  in  providinj^ 
for  a  larire  family,  wliieh  was  now  added  to  contiiuied  earo 
of  the  Iviiisin  Institute.  Many  night  i)lans,  for  day  execu- 
tion, were  made.  I  soon  found  sale  for  forty  acres  of  the 
one  hundred  and  sixtv,  which  relieved  mc  i)f  the  most 
pressiufj;  demands. 

At  times  responsibilities  were  so  great,  and  hurdens  so 
crushing,  that  I  was  almost  ready  to  falter.  ^Fy  greatest 
anxiety  was  to  guide  my  dear  children  aright.  The  four 
older  ones  had  resolved  to  follow  the  dear  Ivedeemer,  hut 
the  slippery  paths  of  youth  were  theirs  to  walk  in.  The 
consideration  of  these  multiform  cares  at  one  time  seemed 
of  crushing  weight.  I  questioned  whether  the  burden  I 
had  so  often  left  at  the  foot  of  the  cross  I  had  not  taken 
up  again,  and  whether  I  had  as  fully  consecrated  self, 
with  my  dear  children,  to  the  Lord  as  he  re(piired.  I  was 
endeavoring  fully  to  yield  all  into  my  Kedeemer's  hands 
for  safe-keeping.  This  was  my  constant  prayer,  yet  this 
heavy  burden  during  a  few  days  seemed  unfitting  mc  ft)r 
the  every -day  duties  devolving  upon  me.  In  family  devo- 
tion I  opened  to  the  fifty-fourth  chapter  of  Isaiah,  where 
I  found  precious  promises  that  I  acce])ted  f  »r  my  own,  and 
the  heavy  burden  for  my  ciiildren  was  uplifted.  Never 
did  I  exi)erience  greater  liberty  in  prayer,  or  exercise  a 
stronger  faith.  J^urely  the  silver  lining  to  this  cloud  ap- 
])ears.  "All  thy  children  shall  be  taught  of  the  Lord" 
were  precious  words.  I  was  afllicted  anil  tossed  with  tem- 
pest, but  a  sweet  promise  followed.  All  the  way  through 
that  chapter  the  Comforter  appeared  with  rich  promises. 
AVith  these  before  me  I  could  freely  leave  all  my  burden 
with  the  Lord.  I  saw  l)y  the  eye  of  faith  all  my  seven 
children  made  acijuainted  with  their  Creator  in  the  A\\\a 
of  their  vouth.  Althnuirh  I  never  ceased  askint;,  vet  there! 
haa  teemed  an  accompanying  assurance.  When  from  ten 
to  sixteen  years  of  age,  my  scvcu  children  yielded  by  liv- 


MAUUIACiE   OF  TWO  CHILDREN. 


51 


bnrdrii 
y  seven 
»o  (l:iy.s 
't  tlu'iv, 
•oiu  ten 
by  liv- 


in,"-  experience  to  tlio  Savior's  loving  invitation,  "  (\»n]e 
niito  nic,"  that  hour  and  (hiy  was  victorious  throuirli 
faith.  That  weiglit  of  hunk'n  never  again  returned.  Tlie 
entire  yit'lding  all  into  the  earc  and  keej)ing  J)o\V(t  of  Ilini 
who  doetli  all  tilings  well,  at  that  hour  was  complete.  I 
could  say,  "  lie  leadeth  me,"  without  a  .'^hadow  of  doul)t. 
As  fugitive-slaves  were  still  making  their  resting-place 
with  us,  I  hired  one  of  them,  named  George  Taylor,  a  few 
months  through  hay-making  and  harvest.  He  had  made 
Ills  escape  from  a  Soutliern  master  who  was  about  to  sell 
liiiu  farther  south.  Once  before  he  had  made  an  unsuc- 
cessfid  attempt  at  freedom,  ])ut  wa.s  captured  and  placed 
ill  irons,  until  they  made  <leep  sores  around  his  ankles. 
As  he  appc^ared  very  sulunissive,  the  sorest  ankle  wa.s  rc- 
lieve<l.  IV'ing  so  badly  crippled,  he  was  thought  sale, 
lint  supplying  himself  with  asafctida,  which  he  occasion- 
ally rulibed  over  the  soh^s  of  his  shoes,  to  elude  the  scent 
of  bloodhounds,  he  again  followed  the  north  star,  and 
(inally  reaehe<l  our  home.  His  ankles  were  still  unhealed. 
He  had  succeeded  in  breaking  the  iron  with  a  stone,  dur- 
ing the  lirst  and  second  days  of  his  hiding  in  the  woods. 
He  was  an  honest  Christian  man  of  the  Baptist  persuasion. 

MAIiriIA(iH  OV  TWO  CHILDREN. 

On  June  0,  184G,  my  oldest  son,  Harvey  S. ,  was  mar- 
ried to  Hiildah  West,  of  Adrian,  and  my  oldest  daught(T, 
Esther  M.,  was  at  the  same  hour  married  to  Alnion  Cam- 
hurii,  of  Franklin,  both  of  our  own  county.  The  mother's 
earnest  prayer  was,  that  these  children  might  prove  each 
other's  burden-sharers,  thereby  doubling  the  joys,  as  well 
as  dividing  the  .sorrows,  of  life.  My  daughter's  husband 
was  one  of  our  students,  and  in  some  of  her  studies  a 
classmate. 

We  were  fortunate  in  again  .securing  lirother  Patchin 
tn  finish  the  academic  year  in  our  institution.  Though  the 
cloud  looked  dark   that  overhung  our  institution,  by  the 


G 


V    .    '  I 


i    >u*> 


m 


52 


A    WOMAN  S    I.IFK-WnlJK. 


sudden  deaths  of  my  lui^baiid,  and  sister  Emily  Galpin, 
wliich  caused  lier  bereaved  luishaiid  to  leave  as  soon  as 
his  place  could  he  filled  hy  a  successor,  we  had  the  con- 
sciousness that  our  school  was  taking  a  deep  hold  on  the 
minds  of  the  community  at  large,  as  well  as  exercisintr  a 
marked  influence  upon  the  young  peophi  who  were  <''li"y- 
ing  its  privileges.  We  found  an  increasing  interest  in 
abolition  principles  throughout  our  community.  In  this 
we  jmiiscd  God  and  took  courage. 


AUNT   IX'CV. 


53 


Chapter  III. 

A^'TI-SLAVJ•:KY  ICXPEIIIENCES. 

Tins  eliapter  iutnKlucc.s  the  reader  to  representatives 
of  a  ]ar^o  })r<)])orti()n  oi'  slave-owners  of  tlie  Sontliern 
Hlate.s,  who  wen;  jx^rverted  by  a  system  well-named  "the 
Slim  of  all  villainies." 

AVillis  Ilamiltnn,  an  emancipated  slave,  the  hero  of  this 
narrative,  who  fled  to  Canada  with  his  slave  wife,  Elsie,  to 
seek  for  her  the  })roteetion  of  the  IJritish  lion  from  the  mer- 
ciless talons  of  the  freedom-shrieking  American  eagle,  was 
emanci})aled  three  years  previous  to  the  date  of  this  chap- 
ter, together  with  nineteen  others  (the  reputed  goods  and 
chattels  of  John  Bayliss,  a  Baptist  deacon,  near  Jones- 
horough,  Tennessee).  Slaveholder  though  he  was,  John 
Bayliss  evidently  thought  his  black  people  had  souls  as  well 
as  those  of  white  skins,  for  lie  allowed  his  house  servants 
to  renniin  in  the  dining-room  during  evening  family  wor- 
shij),  thus  giving  them  instruction  which,  as  the  seijue]  will 
show,  made  the  slave  the  teacher  of  the  master;  for  one 
morning,  as  "Aunt  TjUcv,"  an  old  and  privileged  servant, 
was  passing  through  his  room,  she  said: 

"  ^lassa  John,  I 's  bin  thinkin'  a  heap  o'  dat  ar  what 
you  read  in  the  Bible  t'  other  night." 

"Ah,  what's  that,  Aunt  Lucy?"  said  the  deacon. 

"  It  s  to  do  oder  folks  as  you  'd  want  'em  to  do  to  you, 
or  .somehow  dat  fashion.  T  till  you,  Ma.'^sa  John,  'twould 
he  mighty  hard  for  you  white  folks  to  work  great  many 
years  and  get  noffin'.  Don,  if  you  dies,  whar'd  we  go  to? 
I  syiccks  we  'd  go  down  de  riber,  like  Jones's  pour  people 
did  las'  week." 


m 


)  i 


l!i 


1 


64 


A    woman's    I,II'r,-\V(»KK. 


"  ^Vt'll,  Will,  Aiml  LiK'v,  (liiit  Wiis  loo  l)ii(l;  hut  .Jones 
was  in  dcht,  and  1  .sujiposo  tlu'V  had  to  h(^  sold." 

"()  yvs,  I  s'{)()si'  Sit;  hn(  dat  you  read  in  d«'  liihlo  Hort 
o'  sticks  to  inc — I  can't  help  it,"  said  this  faithTul  old 
mothor  in   [sracl,  as  sln>  went  out  lo  her  work. 

In  a  nionuMit  or  two  Mrs.  Uayliss  cntrrod  the  room, 
and  the  deacon  said  : 

"  Wile,  what  kind  of  a  text  do  you  thiidc  Aunt  Lucy 
lias  just  i!;iven  me?" 

-Text?" 

"  Y,'s,  text." 

"  What's  {jot  into  her  head  now?" 

"She  says  she's  heen  (hinkinj^  about  what  I  read  in 
])raycr-time  the  otlu>r  evening,',  relerriny  to  the  gohh-n  rule, 
and  that  it  sort  o'  sticks  to  her.  She  sjxike  of  the  excite- 
ment over  Jones's  hhu'k  peopU'  who  were  .«ent  down  the 
river  the  other  day;  and  I  tell  you,  the  way  she  applied 
her  text,  it  'sort  o'  sticks'  to  me." 

"O  hush!"  indiirnantly  exclaimed  ATrs.  Bayliss.  "Aunt 
Lucy  's  mitrhty  reli<i;ious,  and  has  so  many  notions  of  her 
own  she's  not  worth  mindiiii:,  any  how." 

"  But  she  asked  me  what  would  become  of  my  black 
people  if  1  should  die,  and  if  I  thought  they  would  ever 
be  torn  ai)art  as  Jones's  were.  I  tell  you,  wife,  I  have 
witnessed  such  scenes  too  often  to  leel  right  in  risking  a 
contingcMicy  of  that  kind,"  said  the  deacon,  gravely. 

"Don't  be  a  fool,  now,  John  Bayliss,"  angrily  exclaimed 
bis  wife,  "about  Aunt  Lucy's  fuss  over  Jones's  niggers." 

"  Well,"  said  the  deacon,  "I  don't  wonder  at  her  feel- 
ing grieved  ;  they  belonged  to  her  Church,  and  many  of 
theju  were  her  relatives." 

Here,  for  the  time  being,  the  conversation  ended;  but 
the  soul  of  John  Bayliss,  awakened  by  the  simple,  straiglit- 
forward  speech  of  his  bond-woman,  refused  to  be  quieted, 
and  he  made  this  the  subject  of  earnest  prayer  until  the 
path  of  duty  became  .so  clear  before  him  that  he  could  not 


1 


KLSIIO    HAMII/roN. 


55 


til)  (((licrwisc  lliMH  nuiimmil  his  Iwnity  shivcs,  :illliinit;li 
Itiltcrlv  <>|)|)<)S(m1  !))•  his  wilt-  (who  icl'iisid  in  IVcc  i]u\  three, 
heltl  ill  hiT  own  riji'ht). 

KIsie,  the  wile  of  Willis  I  ituiiillDii,  Ik1(Hi;,m(1  (o  a  iioigh- 
JMiriiijf  planter.  She  wus  koM  Id  a  drover  Tor  tln^  Sontiiern 
market,  and  was  heini;  torn  I'roni  her  iiiishanil  and  two 
litlle  dau<iliters.  Willis,  in  his  a;^ony,  went  I'roin  honse  to 
Iniiise,  ini|»h>rinjj;  some  one  to  l>ny  her,  so  that  slu;  nii/^ht 
remain  near  her  i'amily.  Finally  on(^  Dr.  .lolm  1*.  Chester, 
who  was  ahout  oju-ninj;-  u  hotel,  aj.,M'eed  to  purchase  J'^lsio 
for  S-'^OO,  il'  Willis  would  pay  $'•]()()  in  work  in  the  hou.^(^ 
and  tare  the  sanu;  as  the  other  .'■■ervants  in  hoard  and 
elothin<r.  With  these  conditions  Willis  aladly  complied ; 
hut  after  they  had  sj)ent  a  lew  months  in  their  new  h<ime. 
Deacon  Hayliss  examined  their  article  ol"  aj^reement  and 
found  it  to  he  ilie^^al.  He  told  Willis  that  Dr.  Chest<3r 
coidd  sell  Elsio  at  any  time,  and  he  could  estahlisii  no 
claim  to  her,  (!ven  had  he  paid  the  S-'JOO,  wiiich,  at  tlu; 
wa^a's  ho  wjus  rcceiviufj;,  would  take  him  nearly  nini;  year.s 
to  earn,  with  the  inti'rest,  and  advi.scd  him  to  leave  J)r. 
Chester  and  work  for  waj^es,  a.s  he  haj,l  done  since  hi.s 
manumission.  This  advice  was  iininediately  acted  upon, 
Willis  beinir  permitted  to  si)end  his  ni;j;hts  with  his  wife. 
Every  thin^^  ])assed  off  jjleasantly  for  a  few  weeks,  until 
one  of  the  hou.se-servants  told  ]<]lsie  that  she  overheard 
blaster  John  s(dl  Ixjth  her  and  Willis  to  a  slave-trader, 
who  would  the  followinj;  ni<rht  convoy  them  to  the  river 
witli  a  drove  ready  for  Now  Orleans.  Frantic  as  the  poor 
woman  was  with  terror  and  grief  at  this  information,  sIk^ 
mana^^'d  to  jK-rfonn  her  duties  as  usual  until  supper-time; 
and  when  all  were  seated  at  the  table  she  slii)pod  out  un- 
observed, ran  through  a  corn-field  into  the  woods,  sending 
wt)rd  to  Willis  by  a  fellow-servant  to  meet  her  at  a  certain 
log.  The  moment  Willis  rec^eived  the  message  he  hastened 
to  her  with  flying  leet;    and  here  the  wretched  husband 


e  I 


r|^ 


f  ■ 


I  ffirtr- 

'    lit.      .TM 

i  il!     5   1 


50 


A    woman's    LIKK-WoUK 


niid    wife,    but  ji   i'cw  days    hcCorc    so   I'liil  (  f  plans  lur  ji 
[•K'usaiit  I'liliin'.  lirM  llicir  (•(Hiiicil  in  tears. 

Willis,  in  his  snddcn  iViiilil  and  cxcilcnicnl ,  conld  only 
exclaim:  "What  shall  Avo  do?  W'ht'rc  shall  wc  ^'oV' 
Mlsic,  cooler  and  more  ('onij)oscd,  suiitxi'stod  .^oinj^  to  Deacon 
Hayliss  lor  advice,     This  Willis  <|nickly  did,  and  soon  ro- 


lurned,  It  liavin<r  h.'eii  arrani,fed  that  he  shonld  hrnig  J'dsiii 
llii'ix'  and  secrete  her  in  tlio  utli(;  until   the  excitement  of 


the    hunt    was   over.       Al'ter   this   the 


r  assume( 


1  tl 


le  names 


of  liill  and  fJane,  a  lirother  and  sister  who  answered  to 
their  own  description  of  color  and  size  on  Willis's  frco 
jiajiers — the  whole  list  of  the  twenty  .slaves  emaneipati'd  ])y 
JJeacon  JJayliss  beinir  recorded  on  each  paj)er. 

After  live  weeks  hidinj":  at  the  southern  terminus  of  tin; 
"  rnderirround  Railroad,"  they  took  up  their  line  of  march 
lor  C  anada.  in  a  (^uaki'r  settloment  in  Indiana  they  found 
friends  to  ^vhom  they  revealed  their  true  relationshi[),  and 
hero  they  spent  a  year  with  a  (Quaker  family  named  Shu- 
j^art.  lint  the  idi;,dit  jjroleetion  adorded  by  tlu'  laws  of 
Indiana  did  not  tend  to  jj;iv(>  them  a  feeling  of  security,  and 
HO  th(>y  started  ajjain  Ibr  tho  promisi'd  land  with  llu'ir  inlant 
<lanirhti'r  Louisa.  On  this  journey  they  ^vere  as.^isted  on 
their  \vay,  ami  made  easy  and  conifortahle,  eom[)ared  \\h\\ 
their  hasty  tlii,dit  from  Tennessee,  i'rom  whence  they  walked 
with  swollen  and  blistered  feet,  and  every  nerve  strun<;  to 
its  utmost  tension  from  the  iear  of  pursuit  by  their  South- 
ern perseeutors. 

As  times  were  hard  in  Ctunuhi,  Elsie  consented  to  come 
to  IMiehiiran  with  her  liusband  if  he  could  lind  a  Quaker 
neighborhood.  In  their  search  they  found  our  house,  and 
my  husband,  Charles  Ilaviland,  Jr.,  after  learning  their 
condition,  leased  Willis  twenty  acres  of  ground,  mostly 
0}x>nings,  for  ten  years,  for  the  impn)vements  he  wouhl 
make  thereon.  Here  they  lived  for  three  years,  when  one 
day  Elsie  saw  a  strange  man  peering  through  tlic  fence. 


4 


i 


A   ruAiDrLKNT  i,i:t'1i:u. 


57 


llcr  tlrst  (lioiiLiIit  was  "  a  Soutlicnicr,"  aii<l  snatcliiii^'  her 
two  littli'  OIK'S  she  ran  I'or  our  lioiisc,  oiilv  a  I'vw  rods  distanl. 
The  mail  pursiH'tl  her,  and  ^^ll('  called  for  liel|)  to  a  iiei;jlil)or 
ill  .^iirlil,  at  wliieli  (he  skulkin;^'  sneak  look  hiinsclf  olK  to 
the  Woods.  This  incident  so  tlioroiiirhiy  aroused  their  ('ears 
that  tlii'V  look  another  I'arni,  a  lew  miles  distant,  lor  tlirci^ 
years;  then  a  farm  near  Ypsilanli  for  a  lew  years;  from 
whence  they  removed  to  Monroe,  where  they  indiici'd  a 
friend  to  write  to  Willis's  old  friend  and  master,  Deacon 
Hayliss,  makini;  in(|uiries  al'ler  their  two  (laujfhtcrs,  who 
Wen;  K'ft  behind  in  slavery.  They  received  u  prompt  re- 
ply, purporting  to  come  from  Hayliss,  informint,'  tlicm  that 
their  danuditcrs  were  still  livin«!:  where  they  left  tlicm.  lie 
Wwuld  see  them,  he  said,  hy  thi>  time  lie.  received  their 
next  letter,  which  he  hoped  would  he  soon,  that  he  mi;;;ht 
he  I  he  liajjpy  hearer  of  ^dad  ik'WS  to  the  children  from 
their  father  and  mother,  lie  professed  ^'rciat  joy  at  hcar- 
iiiL^  i'rom  them,  wished  them  to  write  all  the  particulars 
ali.iiit  themselves,  hiit  cautioned  ihoni  to  write  to  no  oiu^ 
hilt  him,  and  all  would  he  safe.  He  rc(piested  them  to 
iiil'orm  him  in  what  town  they  were  livings  us  la;  noticed 
their  li'tter  was  dated  in  one  (own,  mailed  in  another,  aii<l 
he  was  directed  (o  address  them  in  a  third.  Their  i'riend, 
however,  strictly  cautioned  them  not  to  reveal  their  definite 
whereabouts,  but  to  answer  all  other  (piei'ies.  \\'illis  wrote 
tiiat  as  his  farm  lease  had  expired  there,  he  would  have  to 
seek  another  farm,  and  did  not  know  where  he  would  be,  but  to 
address  a  letter  as  before  and  it  would  be  Ibrwarded  to  him. 
Their  next  move  was  to  return  to  their  first  Michiyan 
lioiiu!  on  my  premises,  a  few  months  after  the  <leath  of  my 
husband,  takinj^  up  their  abode  in  the  little  log-house  built 


for  tl 


lem  a 


fe 


w  veai's 


befo 


ore,   and   workiiiir 


my 


land 


on 


siiares.  Another  letter  was  soon  received  from  their  friend 
Deacon  Hayliss,  as  they  supposed,  and  they  urge<l  me  to 
reply;  but  I  firmly  refused  to  write  to  any  one  in  the  land 
of  the   slaveholder,  lest  the  message   should   fall    into  the 


I  'h  ,.  It 


rv  .  j.'l 


,,'f 


'  ii  I' '  r    ' 


58 


\   woman's  f,ii'i:-w<)UK. 


O 


liiinds  of  cnoiuics,  jiiid  sKlviscd  llicru  tt»  h'livf  tlii'ir  daii^'lilors 
ill  tlu>  liiiiids  ol'  I  lie  Lord,  who  woidd  yet  itrovidc  ii  Wiiy 
of  dclivcriuicc  for  tluMii  jis  lie  had  i'or  (heir  i)ar('iits.  In 
their  gr(>at  anxiety,  liowever,  to  hear  from  tlieir  chihlren, 
from  whom  thev  had  been  sejjarated  m  many  years,  their 
))Iea  was  .stronjr  and  persistent;  l)iit  I  remained  iinmovahle 
lo  all  their  entreaties,  and  tcdd  tliem  of  a  slave  family, 
"who,  after  liviiiLC  twenty  years  in  Indiana,  had  hnt  recently 
])eon  eaptin'ed  and  returned  to  hopeless  l)ondau('.  I'lmn 
this  they  yiehled  to  me  for  the  time  l)ein^^  hut  in  a  few 
weeks  came  a_L'":'in  with  ])leadin<rs  made  elo(|uent  by  sulHr- 
As   they  had  felt   the  vice-like   jj^vi])   t»f  tin'    peculiar 


nii;. 


system   on   tiien*  own 


hearts' 


an 


d    lives,    thev   realized    loo 


keenlv  the  fate  that  niii'ht  anv  time  overtake  llu'ir 
dau^diters.  lint  I  still  resisted  all  their  entreaties,  and  in 
u  few  days  after  they  applii'd  to  J.  F,  Dolbeare,  one 
of  the  trustees  of  Raisin  Institute,  who,  thinkinjj;  there 
was  no  dani^er,  'wrote  all  they  desired,  telling'  IIk;  sup- 
l)osed  Deacon  Dayliss  all  their  jtast  life  in  the  free  States 
and  all  their  j)lans  for  the  future.  This  they  kept  from 
me  for  a  time,  but  ]''i!sie's  heart  refused  to  ])(.\  (piieted,  and 
she  finallv  told   nie  about  it,  first  tellinu'  her  husband  she 


lu'lieved  it  their  diitv, 


I< 


or, 


sue 


avi 


I  h 


lave  thou'dit 


more  about  it  since  Aunt  Laura  told  me  she  dreamed  of 
three   poisonous  {zreeii  vipers  which  she  ])oked  so  near  the 


lire  that  their  sack 


;s  "wei'c  hurned  to  a  crisi)  anc 


'P 


d  tl 


le  poison 


all  ran  out,  so  that  she  thoirjfht  them  powerless  for  harm, 
but  they  still  kept  their  threateniuij;  attitude;  and  who 
knows  but  these  vipers  may  be  slaveholders?"  AVillis  said 
he  had  felt  like  telliny;  me  all  the  while,  and  both  came  to 


me  wi 


th  tl 


leu"  storv, 


I  much  ri\LM'ette(l  this  unwise  step,  but  forbore  all  criti- 
cism, and  told  them  we  would  hope  for  the  best.  A  few 
days  after  a  strantrer  appeared  at  our  gati'  and  iiKpiired  for 
a  stray  horse,  which  he  .slid  left  him  at  Tecumseh.  None 
having  been  seen  he  made  similar  iuipiiries  at  Hamilton's. 


In 

nil  . 

IK 
(Ir 

SS,   i 

r' 

I'll 

\y 

illi. 

MISIIAI*    TO    SLAVK-lMNTllUS, 


51) 


He  ;ilsi»  askt'tl  liir  ii  ^^lass  i>i'  water,  mikI  wliilc  receiving'  it, 
savs  to  I'^lsic  :  "Aiiiilic,  where  <1<ms  iliis  rnad  lead  to,  that 
(•r<>f<s('s  the  rivi-r  cast";'"  "Tn  I'alinyva,"  she  replied,  and 
fri'ditencd  at  ht'iii;' addrcssi'd  as  "Auntie,"  in  the  Southern 
t^tyle,  liasteued  int(»  her  house. 

The  second  ni<rht  after  this,  at  eleven  o'cloek,  a  ear- 
riairt'  drove  up  to  a  lo^r-liouscf  on  one  of  the  <'ross  roatls, 
ami  three  men  appeared  siniultane(»usly,  two  at  the  i'rout 
and  one  at  the  rear  window,  hut  (juickly  disappeari'd. 
They  had  evitlently  mistaken  their  place,  as  it  was  a  white; 
liiiuiiy  up  with  a  sick  child,  it  was  u  dark  ni^ht,  and 
there  was  a  duirway  ten  feet  deep  ])erpendicular,  neai'  the 
liiiet'  to  which  their  team  was  hitclu'd,  which  the  valiant 
and  mysterious  trio  did  not  discover,  and  when  they  re- 
entered their  carria^fc  and  attemi»ted  to  turn  around  they 
tiuuhled  into  it,  horses,  carriap^,  and  all.  This  litlli'  inci- 
dent so  disarrani:-ed  their  plans  that  they  were  until  day- 
h;:ht  returninsx  to  Adrian  (oidy  six  miles  distant),  with 
their  hroken  trajipiniis  and  bruised  horses.  They  told  the 
liveryman,  Mr.  llurlhurt,  that  their  horses  took  fright  and 
ran  off  a  steep  haidv,  and  begged  him  to  lix  the  damages 
as  low  as  possible,  as  they  were  from  home,  belated,  ete. 
.Mr.  Ilurlburt  assessed  them  thirty  dollais;  but  he  after- 
wards said,  had  he  known  their  business  he  would  have 
doubled  it. 
C'  Three  days  after  this  fortunate  mishai)  Willis  Hamiltnn 
received  a  letter  inclosing  three  dollars,  pin'])orting  to  be 
from  John  Bayliss,  who  had  come  up  into  Ohio  on  busi- 
ness, and  was  -n  his  way  to  visit  them  when  lie  was  sud- 
der'  k  cry  ill,  and  was  pronounced  l)y  the  physi- 
ci  ,.    ..       itical    eonditiou — in    fact,    they    gave    him 

nui  'te  •  iCouragement  for  recovery,  and  he  desired 
AVill:  to  come  and  visit  him,  and  bring  his  wife  and  chil- 
dn  ,  as  he  might  want  him  for  two  weeks.  lie  closed  by 
saying : 

"Whetlier  I  get  1       or  or  die,  I  am  resigned,  and  can 


"'' , 


60 


A    WOMAN'S    I.IFK-WOUK. 


SUV   the    Lord's   will    be  done.     I  shall    have  every   train 
Avatclu'd  nntil  von  conio.     (iod  bless  vou. 

"  Kcspeclfidly  yours,  doiiN  Bayi.iss." 

Of  course  I  was  ^'iven  thi^5  letter  to  read,  and  I  suir- 
p'stcd  the  utmost  caution  in  obeying  this  re<juest,  lor,  as 
the  <»ld  rat  in  the  fable  said,  there  luiLdit  be  "concealed 
mischief  in  this  hea[)  <»f  meal."  I  called  for  the  other  two 
letters,  and  found  thev  were  written  bv  the  same  hand. 
Willis  says:  "Oh!  I  know  the  old  boss  too  well;  he's 
true  as  steel;  lie  won't  have  anything-  to  do  with  traj) 
business.  Besides,  I  'vc  got  my  free  papers,  and  I  'm  not 
afraid  to  go,  but  I  wont  take  my  wife  and  children."  1 
j)n)i)(j.sed  that  iNIr.-Dolbeare  or  some  neighbor  go  with  him. 
That  })lcased  hitn,  but  ^Nlr.  Dolbeare  could  not  go.  As 
my  son  Daniel  and  I  were  going  to  .\drian,  I  proposed  tn 
get  either  Mr.  Backus  or  ]Mr.  Peters,  both  str(»ng  anti- 
slavery  friends  in  the  city,  to  accompany  him  to  Toledo. 
As  we  were  about  starting,  .Foscph  (Jibbons,  a  neighboi', 
came  with  the  suggestion  that  Willis  remain  at  home,  and 
James  ^Martin,  who  was  about  his  color  and  size,  go  in  his 
stead  ;  as  (Jibbons  agreed  with  me  ir.  believing  there  was 
u  deep  laid  i)lot.  To  this  all  ])arties  agr(>ed,  and  Willis 
gave  me  the  letter  and  the  three  dollars  towards  the  i'are 
of  whoever  should  go  with  James,  who  was  an  intelligent 
young  colored  man  in  our  instituticm.  Everything  being 
in  readiness  we  now  started  I'or  Adrian,  where  we  arrived 
just  in  time  to  jump  on  board  the  train,  and  conserpiently 
had  no  leisure  to  seek  out  and  make  the  ])ropose(l  arrange- 
ments with  our  above  mentioned  friends,  but  sent  word 
back  to  Willis  that  we  would  return  the  following  morning. 

Once  fairly  settled  on  our  journey  the  responsibility  .<o 
suddenly  thrust  upon  me  made  me  crv  out  in  mv  heart 
for  wisdom  beyond  my  own,  and  I  ])rayed  for  a  guiding 
hand  to  direct  our  actions  in  case  we  should  find  ourselves 
in  the  camp  of  the  enemy,  iace  to  ftice  with  trafiickers  in 
human   sonls   and    bodies,  who  c(>iisidcred    no  scheme   too 


AUUIVAL    AT   TOLKIX). 


()l 


vile  or  desperate  for  them  to  undertake,  the  succc^^9  of 
which  woiihl  in  any  ^vay  subserve  tlieir  ow""  interests. 

We  arrived  at  Toleih)  at  7  P.  M.,  and  as  we  k'ft  th(5 
cars  James  was  addressed  by  a  man  with  tlie  qnestinii  : 
"Is  your  name  Willis  Hamilton?"  (and  without  waitin,^ 
for  a  reply),  "  Is  your  wife  with  you?" 

*'  Xo,  sir,"  said  James. 

"Perhaps  I  am  mistaken,"  said  the  questioner,  who 
was  the  porter  of  the  Toledo  hotel. 

"Who  do  yon  wish  to  sec?"  said  James. 

"Willis  Iliimilton  is  the  man  T  am  sent  for,  by  his  old 
friend  John  Bayliss,  who  is  at  the  Toledo  hotel,  so  ill  that 
lie  is  not  ex})ect('d  to  live." 

"  Wh(>re  is  this  Mr.  Bayliss  from?"  said  James. 

"Teimessee,  I  beli(>ve." 

"  Very  well,  if  there  is  such  a  man  here  I  want  to  sec 


liini. 


"Come  with  me,  and  I'll  take  you  to  his  room,"  said 
ihc  porter. 

While  this  conversation  was  ]iassinj^  between  the  porter 
:ind  James  avc  were  followinj^  in  the  rear,  but  api)arently 
l)ayiiig  no  attention  to  them.  Our  i)lan  wiis  for  J>ani(l  to 
keep  James  in  siiirht  if  possible,  and  whatever  he  heard  of 
the  siek  man  to  report  to  me  in  the  ])arloi'.  AVe  entercil 
the  hotel  nearly  together.  I  was  shown  into  the  ])arlor 
ami  James  was  taken  up  a  flight  of  stairs  from  the  l)ar- 
ruDin.  Daniel  was  f)llowing,  when  the  })orter  told  him 
the  l)ar-ro(jni  for  gentlemen  was  below.  lie  said,  "lam 
taking  this  man  to  see  a  friend  of  his  who  is  very  sick, 
and  no  strangers  arc  allowed  to  enter  the  room."  Of 
course,  my  son  could  do  nothing  but  return,  so  no  furtlu'r 
observations  coidd  be  taken  by  us  until  the  reapp*^aranc(» 
of  James.  For  two  long  hours  we  neither  saw  nor  Ix-ard 
anything  of  him,  and  becoming  vi'ry  anxious  and  restless 
I  told  Daniel  to  ask  fi)r  Jame,"  "Nrartin,  as  he  had  business 
with  him.      Twice  he  made    this  re<jucst,  but    the  porter 


(    ;■ 

i 

'"! 

Mi    I  Timi 


.1    " 
iT.il 

,  i»  ?■  1'  u 


tTT 


62 


A  woman's  LFFK-WOUK. 


only  said,  "Yes,  yes,  you  sluill  see  liiin  in  a  minute,"  and 
dodi^cd  from  ro  )m  to  room  to  keep  out  of  sight. 

Growing  desperate,  I  finally  told  my  son  to  tell  tlic 
porter  "if  that  young  colored  man  is  not  forthcoming  at 
once,  a  writ  of  jKibras  corjnis  will  he  served  on  him  in  M- 
teen  minutes,  as  wc  must  sec  him  immediately.  Also  tell 
Ml'.  Woodward,  the  pro})rictor,  that  your  mother  is  hero 
with  a  message  for  Mr.  John  Bayliss,  who  we  understand 
is  very  ill  at  this  house."  JMr,  Woodward  instantly  sum- 
mon(Ml  the  })ort('r,  and  wo  heard  him  say  in  an  excited 
undertone:  "  There  's  trouble  ahead  indess  that  young  black 
fellow  comes  down  immediately ;  tell  them  to  send  him 
down  at  once."  In  a  moment  the  porter,  three  ges  tlemen, 
and  James  made  their  appearance,  evidently  to  the  sur- 
prise of  twenty  half  drunken  Irishmen  who  had  been  chat- 
tering all  the  evening,  but  were  now  so  still  you  could 
have  heard  a  pin  drop,  to  see  Hamilton  fas  the  seijucl 
shows  they  supposed)  brought  down  so  j)ubli('ly  and  with- 
out fetters.  It  afterwards  transpired  that  AVillis  Hamil- 
ton, upon  coming  down  stairs,  was  to  have  been  put  into 
a  (dose  carriage,  sent  away,  and  his  family  then  sent  for 
under  the  jilea  that  he  was  detained  with  his  sick  friend, 
and  this  was  the  intelligent  crowd  who  Avere  to  aid  in  the 
success  of  the  plan. 

I  had  seen  a  carriage  stand  fifteen  or  twenty  mituites 
at  the  bar-room  door  and  finally  leave  without  a  passenger, 
and  Daniel  saw  the  same  carriage  at  the  rear  door  e(pially 
long,  which  also  left  there  empty.  Upon  coming  down 
James  ^lartin  evidently  took  in  the  situation  at  a  glance, 
for,  giving  my  son  a  pinch,  he  said:  "  ^Tr.  llaviland,  let 
us  go  into  the  dining-room  and  call  for  supper."  This  Avas 
to  give  the  drunken  ra1)ble  time  to  leave  so  that  he  cnidd 
relate  his  adventures  with  the  Southerners  after  supper. 
But  ])y  this  time  the  porter  cfttnc  to  mo  to  incpiire  if  I 
wished  to  sec  ^\r.  Bayliss,  the  sick  man.  I  replied  in  the 
nftirmativc,  upon  which   he  said:    "He  is  very    low;    no 


INTKKVIKW    WITH    "THK    DOCTOR." 


Vyi\ 


straiiiror  has  hoou  allowed  to  outer  his  room  for  tiircc  days, 
hut  his  doctor  is  here.  Would  you  like  to  see  him?"  "I 
would,"  I  replied.  A  tall  gentleman  now  entered  the 
room  and  addressed  me:  "Madam,  are  you  the  lady  who 
wished  to  see  me?"  "  I  am,  if  you  are  the  physician  who 
has  charge  of  John  Bayli>s  of  Teimessee,  who  we  learn  is 
very  ill,  hy  a  letter  which  Willis  Hamilton  received  yes- 
terday." 

"  I  am  Dr.  Taylor  of  this  city,  and  liavc  the  case  of 
INIr.  Bavliss  in  mv  care,  llis  son-in-law  is  here  taking 
care  of  him,  and  they  are  all  greatly  <lisappointed  at  not 
seeing  Hamilton  this  evening,  as  Mr.  l^ayliss  has  sent  for 
him  and  his  family,  and  they  can  not  imagine  why  he 
does  not  come." 

"  Well,  I  can  tell  yon  why.  We  feared  a  traj),  as 
Willis's  wife  was  formerly  a  slave." 

"I  don't  see,"  said  the  doctor,  "lunv  you  could  sus- 
pect any  thing  wrong  in  that  letter,  as  I  understand  they 
l.ave  written  them  before,  and  you  should  have  compared 
the  letters  to  see  if  they  were  written  hy  the  same  person." 

"  We  did  so,  an<l  f  >und  thcv  were  written  l>v  the  same 
jK'rson.  But  there  are  other  poitits  to  consider:  1st,  John 
Uayliss  stands  somewhat  in  the  relation  of  a  slaveholder, 
as  in  a  former  letter  lie  s])()ke  of  three  aged  slaves  living 
with  him,  and  wisheil  Hamilton  and  wife  to  stay  with  him 
two  weeks  if  he  lived,  which  was  doiditful,  ancl  wished 
them  to  he  sure  and  hring  their  children,  though  we  all 
know  that  four  little  noisv  children  are  not  agreeable  c(»m- 
jKUiions  in  a  sick-room." 

Here  my  learned  doctor  gave  his  head  a  vigorous 
scratch,  and  said:  "Well,  madam,  Mv.  Bayliss  is  probably 
childish  from  age,  and  his  sevens  illness  makes  him  more 
so,  A  nervous  temperament  like  his,  atleeted  by  disease, 
often  eideebles  the  mind,  as  body  and  mind  are  in  ('l(»s(^ 
relationship  philosophically.  iS'ow,  he  is  just  childish  enougli 
to  want  to  see  thv^jo  chihlren  playing  around  his  room,  and 


!     1 


i » 1 


m:  ii 

\ 


()4 


A  woman's  i.iri;-\V(»i{K. 


he  says  he  would  make  them  htindsoine  ])rcscnts ;  and  as 
money  seems  to  be  plenty  with  liini  and  apparently  no 
object,  I  judge  they  would  be  well  })aid  for  coming." 

I  did  not  appear  to  cpiestiou  this  view  of  the  case,  but 
inquired  how  long  Deacon  Bayliss  had  been  ill. 

"About  seven  days,  madam,"  replied  the  doctor, 

'*  What  seems  to  be  the  nature  of  the  disease?" 

"  It  was  at  first  a  violent  attack  of  bilious  fever,  but 
for  the  last  three  days  it  has  assumed  a  fearful  form  (;f 
tyi)hus." 

I  told  him  that  Hamilton  and  his  wife  were  both  very 
anxious  about  their  old  friend,  and  wished  me  to  see  him 
personally,  and  give  him  their  reasons  for  not  coming. 

"I  should  be  glad,"  said  the  doctor,  "to  allow  you  to 
sec  him,  were  it  not  for  his  extreme  nervousness,  but  I 
dare  not  risk  it.  It  seems  hard  to  think  the  dying  re(piest 
of  (his  ])()or  old  man  can  not  be  granted.  He  seems  to 
consider  this  family  almost  next  to  his  own." 

"  Yes,"  I  said,  "  it  is  also  hard  and  humiliating  to  hu- 
mane and  patriotic  Americans  that  a  system  of  human 
bondage  exists  in  this  country  which  causes  these  horrible 
feat's  and  suspicions  to  loom  up  like  specters  before  the 
mental  vision  of  this  persecuted  and  down-trodden  race." 

"That  is  very  true,"  said  Dr.  Taylor;  "slavery  is  the 
darkest  spot  on  our  national  escutcheon.  But  in  this  case 
there  is  no  cause  for  suspicion ;  for  I  am  sure  there  is  no 
plot  with  regard  to  the  Hamilton  family,  and  I  call  God 
to  witness  that  every  word  I  tell  you  h^  truth.  As  to  tlic_ 
tiiree  slaves  you  spoke  of,  he  told  me  during  the  fn-st  of 
his  sickness  that  he  emancipated  all  his  slaves,  twenty  in 
lumdur,  but  that  bis  wife  had  three  in  her  riirht,  which 
she  refused  to  free,  and  these  have  alwavs  ren;  :  ned  in  the 
family.  He  manumitted  his  slaves  from  purely  conscien- 
tious scruples;  and  I  believe  that  if  there  is  a  Christian 
that  walks  God's  earth  he  is  one,  for  he  has  manifested 
such    patience  and    resignation   during  his  severe   illness 


<t 


THE  JJUCTOUS      OPINION. 


05 


that  lie  has  cutiiTly  won  my  iifrcctions.  Now,  (h)  n't  ynii 
thhik  you  can  indiico  Ilainillon  to  bring  liis  ihniily  hcru? 
I  do  not  believe  he  will  live  three  days." 

"1  will  1)6  hone.st  with  you,"  I  replied.  "Althouu^h 
you  have  talked  like  a  ('aiidi<l  man,  I  do  not  hclieve  I 
vn\\\d  tran.ster  suHieient  ednrKh'nce  to  the  I'amily  to  induce 
them  to  como  unless  I  should  sec  him,  as  they  charged 
me  over  and  again." 

At  thi.s  my  tender-hearto<l  ^'I']seulapius  sighed  deei>ly, 
and  said:  "I  am  sorry  that  they  or  their  I'rientls  sliould 
entertain  any  distrust,  as  I  I't-ar  he  nniy  not  he  conscious 
two  days  longer.  A  council  of  physicians  was  called  this 
afterno.on,  and  three  out  ot"  the  four  gave  it  as  their  oj)in- 
ion  that  he  could  not  survive,  at  the  longest,  beyond  three 
days;  and  I  believe  him  liable  to  drop  away  within 
twenty-four  hours,  although  it  is  barely  possible  he  may 
live  a  week." 

"Well,"  I  replied,  "one  cause  of  suspicion,  both  with 
my  neighbors  and  myself  was  that,  although  the  letters 
from  John  IJayliss  were  all  written  by  the  same  hand,  the 
last  one  was  ccpially  well  written  as  the  others,  although 
he  was  represented  as  so  very  low,  with  little  hope  of 
recovery." 

Here  my  rcady-tongued  doctor  very  thoughtfully  placed 
his  hand  to  his  forehead,  but  in  a  moment  replied:  "I  will 
tell  you  how  that  was.  His  fever  was  olf  at  the  time, 
which  enabled  him  to  carry  a  steady  hand." 

"  Well,  of  course,"  I  replied,  "  wo  do  not  know  that 
any  plan  exists  to  remand  these  people  back  to  slavery, 
but  we  only  judged  of  the  possibilities.  And  for  my  part 
I  do  not  believe  in  regarding  the  wicked  enactments  of 
men  which  contravene  the  laws  of  eternal  right  given  by 
Clod,  who  made  of  one  blood  all  nations  who  dwell  upon 
the  face  of  the  earth,  and  of  Christ,  who  left  the  realms 
of  glory  to  bring  blessings  to  mankind,  and  a  part  of  whose 
!nis.<ion  was  to  unloose  the  heavy  burdens  and  let  the  «tp- 


I   s; 


'\ 


I:    ^1 


n 


m 


«6 


v', 


A    Wf)MAN'S    LIFK-WOKK. 


pressed  go  free.  And  in  view  of  the  golden  rule  given 
by  the  great  Lawgiver,  I  would  not  for  my  right  hand 
l)eeonic  instrumental  in  rcturnmg  one  escaped  slave  to 
bondage.  I  firndy  believe  in  our  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence, that  all  men  are  created  free  and  eipial,  and  that  no 
human  l)eing  has  a  right  to  make  merchandise  of  others 
born  in  humbler  stations,  and  place  them  on  a  level  with 
horses,  cattle,  and  sheep,  knocking  them  off  the  auction- 
block  to  the  highest  bidder,  sundering  family  ties,  and  out- 
raging the  purest  and  tenderest  feelings  of  human  nature." 

"That  is  all  right,"  said  the  doctor,  "and  I  understand 
your  feelings.  .Slavery  is  the  greatest  curse  ujjon  our  otii- 
erwise  happy  country.  But  in  this  case  there  need  be  no 
fear  of  any  conspiracy  to  injure  your  colored  friends  ;  and 
I  did  hope,  for  the  sake  of  ]Mr.  Bayliss,  they  would  come 
and  visit  him,  and  gratify  his  dying  request." 

lie  then  gave  me  some  of  the  alarming  symptoms  of 
his  })atient,  enlarged  on  the  sympathy  he  i'elt  for  him,  and 
finally  i)roi)Osed  to  go  up  and  consult  with  his  son-in-law 
on  the  proj)riety  of  allowing  me  to  see  him  in  his  present 
exceedingly  nervous  state.  lie  said  if  he  was  not  spoken 
to  perhaps  I  might  1)0  allowed  to  look  at  him,  as  he  was 
kept  under  the  influence  of  o})iates,  and  was  to-night  in  a 
heavy  stupor,  and  not  disposed  to  talk  to  any  one. 

"  Would  such  an  arrangement  be  any  satisfaction  to 


you 


?" 


I  replied  that,  while  it  was  immaterial  to  me,  it  would 
probably  satisfy  the  Hamilton  family;  and,  after  a  few 
minutes'  consultation  in  the  sick-room,  he  returned  with 
the  conclusion  that  I  might  enter  the  room,  but  that  no 
loud  word  nuist  be  spoken,  nor  the  sound  of  a  footfall 
permitted. 

"  But  you  can  not  see  his  face,  as  it  is  covered  with 
cloths  wet  in  vinegar  to  draw  the  fever  out,  and  he  is  now 
in  a  doze,  and  I  do  not  wish  to  disturb  him." 

lie  (hen  descrilK'd  the  terrible  paroxysms,  Ixtrdering  on 


■SREINd  THE  PATIENT. 


07 


ii 


epasins,  siifrored  by  iii.s  patient,  in  whidi  it  tdok  f<)nr  iiumi 
to  hold  liiin,  and  wa.s  (Hilo;^iziii|r  lii.s  wonderl'iil  fortitude 
and  Christian  [)atien('e,  when  the  son-indaw  suddenly  canu! 
rnshin;^  into  the  room  in  his  .shirt-.sleeves  and  .stoekin^^-feet, 
and  exclaimed : 

"Doctor,  doctor,  do  come  <|uick;  father 'rf  ^ot  another 
spasm,  and  I  don't  know  what  to  do." 

"Yes,  yes,"  said  the  doctor,  "I'll  come;  don't  leave 
your  father  a  moment ;"  and  jnmpcd  up,  a[)parcntly  in 
great  cxcit(!ment.  But  at  the  door  he  halted  to  tell  me 
that  these  spasms  indicated  mort'Tication,  when  the  son-in- 
law  ajxain  opened  the  door  with  a  hxnvr  and  the  exclamation  : 

"Doctor,  why  don't  you  hurry?  Father  is  vomiting 
again,  and  I  'm  afraid  he  is  dying." 

At  this  they  both  ru.shed  fVanticjdly  upstairs.  In  about 
fifteen  minutes  the  doctor  returned,  saying  he  had  given 
liis  patient  n  <iouble  do.se  of  an  opiaie,  and  would  let  him 
rest  awhile.  lie  then  launched  out  into  a  description  of 
his  treatment  of  INIr.  Bayliss;  how  ho  had  blistered  him, 
and  perfornied  a  surgical  operation  on  him  which  had 
given  him  great  pain;  said  he  was  af:tending  him  to  lh'3 
neglect  of  his  other  patients,  and  after  exhausting  a 
large  amount  of  elorpience  on  the  subject  returned  to  the 
sick  chamber.  In  a  few  moments  he  came  back  with  the 
information  that  I  could  now  be  admitted,  and  conducte(l 
me  to  the  room. 

As  soon  as  we  stepped  within  the  door  the  doctor 
halted,  but  I  stepped  to  the  center  of  the  room,  as  if  1 
had  forgotten  that  I  was  only  just  to  enter,  and  ga/.e<l  ;il 
the  bed  and  then  at  the  lounge  opposite.  The  doctor 
stcpi)cd  to  my  side  and  said,  "That  is  he  on  the  bed  yon- 
der." I  stood  a  moment  and  took  a  mental  inventory  of 
the  sick  man,  who  appeared  full  six  feet  tall  and  vtrv 
slender,  not  at  all  answering  to  the  description  of  the 
short,  heavily  built  John  Bayli.«s,  of  two  hundred  pounds 
avoirdupois.     Of  coursi-,  a  fu  of   sickness   miuht   reduce  a 


;■  i 


■*  iia 


Mm 
mm 


ml 

m 

,,    ll^ 

''  ill 

m 


68 


A    WOMAN  S    I.IFK-WOUK. 


mail's  (losli,  l)ut  it  did  not  apiK'iir  to  iiic  as  especially  I'vely 
to  increase  his  height.  As  his  face  was  covered  with  wet 
cloths  I  could  not  sec  the  rouiid  iihysiogiioniy  of  John 
Bayliss,  but  passing  jny  hand  over  the  face  I  found  it  long 
and  thin  featured.  I  whispered  to  the  doctor  that  1 
would  like  to  notice  his  i)ulse.  lie  said  I  could  do  so  on 
the  jugular  vein.  I  did  so,  and  found  the  skin  of  this 
fever-stricken  man  to  he  the  natural  temperature,  hut  I 
■\vhisj)ered  to  the  doctor  that  I  was  not  so  aecust<jmed  to 
noticing  the  pulse  in  that  locality  as  at  the  wrist.  After 
some  resistance  hy  the  sick  man,  who  finally  yielded  with 
a  long  undertone  gman,  I  found  his  wrist,  and  the  full, 
strong,  regular  i)ulsc  of  a  well  man.  There  was  now  no 
doubt  in  my  mind  that  I  was  alone  at  this  midnight  hour, 
far  from  home,  in  a  room  with  three  slaveholders. 

As  I  stei)ped  from  the  bed  the  doctor  asked  me  if  I 
was  satisfied.  The  thought  Hashed  through  my  mind  that 
I  had  always  contended  that  deception  was  lying,  and  that 
no  circumstances  could  justify  it.  l>ut  other  thoughts  u!so 
came,  and  I  replied  that  I  was  satisfied. 

At  this  the  son-in-law,  who  had  apparently  been  sleep- 
ing on  the  lounge,  roused  himself  and  commenced  rul)bing 
his  eyes,  and  looking  at  the  doctor,  said,  "Oh,  doctor,  do 
yt)U  think  father  is  any  better?" 

"I  can  not  conscientiously  give  you  any  hope,"  replied 
the  doctor. 

"Oh,  dear!"  he  exclaimed,  "what  shall  I  do?  I  am 
almost  sick  myself,  taking  care  of  him  day  and  night.  If 
J  had  only  knowu  that  they  were  near  Tecumseh,  where  I 
lost  my  horse,  I  would  have  seen  them  ;  but  I  lioped  to 
have  found  him  better  when  I  returned,  instead  of  which 
he  was  much  worse." 

At  this  I  stepped  towards  liim,  and  said:  "If  you  are 
the  gentleman  who  was  inquiring  for  a  horse  in  our  neigh- 
borhood a  f(,'W  days  ago,  you  called  at  Hamilton's  house; 
ami  a>ketl  for  a  drink  o|'  water." 


Jul 


ttim^- 


SHNDINC;    A    LKTIKU. 


69 


"  Wlijit,  that  pliico  where  a  hhick  woman  l)rnui,^lit  mo 
a  <,fhiss  <»r  water?" 

"Yes;  that  was  Ilainilton's  wife.** 

"  Is  it  possible !  that  little  log  house  where  there  was  a 
])ile  of  pumpkins  in  the  yard?" 

♦'  Yes,"  I  sai.l. 

**0h!  if  I  had  only  known  it,"  he  exclaimed,  *'wo 
would  have  had  them  here  to  hel})  us.  Wliat  troulde  we 
have  had.  I  reekon  lather  will  die,  and  I  shall  have  to  go 
home  alone.     (Jod  knows  we  have  had  a  had  trip  of  it." 

The  carefid  doctor  now  heiran  to  fear  we  would  distnrl) 
the  patient,  and  we  were  ahont  leaving  the  ro(»in  when  he 
suddenly  exclaimed,  "I  want  you  to  .^ee  what  hlaek  hilious 
matter  ^Fr.  Bayliss  vomited  a  while  ago;"  and,  stepping 
hack,  he  brought  me  a  white  bowl  two-thirds  full  of  what 
nu'ght  have  l)ecn  the  contents  of  a  coffee-pot,  with  a  bottle 
of  black  ink  tlinnvn  in,  and  a  few  spittles  floating  on  top. 
This,  he  told  mi',  indicated  mortllicatiun.  We  now  passed 
into  the  parlor,  where  wo  could  talk  without  disturbing 
tlic  patient.  "Now,  madam,"  as  you  are  fully  satislli'd 
with  regard  to  Mr.  IJayliss's  illness,  can't  you  do  something 
to  get  the  Ilaniiltons  here?" 

"I  am  willing,"  I  replied,  "to  do  all  in  my  power,  but 
see  no  better  way  than  to  inform  them  of  the  state  of  af- 
fairs upon  my  return,  and  the  train  will  leave  for  Adrian 
at  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning."  Tin;  doctor  went  up 
stairs  to  sec  what  word  they  wished  to  send,  and  soon  re- 
turned with  the  re(piest  that  I  sliould  write  to  Hamilton  to 
come  immediately,  and  the  pcnter  would  go  with  the  letter 
for  ten  dollars,  and  his  father  would  send  another  ton  dollars 
to  AVillis.  I  still  insisted  that  my  original  plan  was  the 
best,  as  the  road  through  the  cotton  wood  swam})  was 
almost  impassable. 

The  son-in-law  now  entered,  and  after  walking  across 
the  floor  a  few  times,  with  sighs  and  groans  and  bemoaninr^ 
his  dire  calamities,  said  his  father  wished  llie  letter  written. 


\s' 


70 


A   WOMAN  s  1,1 1'l;  \voi:k. 


H(!  rctiinicd  to  his  fatlior  and  the  doctor  went  for  wriliii;^ 
luatc'iijil.  They  ('h).so(l  the  door  beliiiid  them  for  ft  consid- 
tatioii,  I  f^iipposc'd.  ^ 

The  loader  will  remoinbcr  that  diiriiif^  all  this  time  I 
knew  ii()thiii|^  of  the  exju'riencc  of  James  Martin  with  this 
ufllictcd  trio,  hut  iiad  heeii  compelled  to  (^rope  my  way 
hiiiidly.  As  the  ducLor  and  son-in-law  went  out  my  Hon 
came  in.  He  had  overheard  something  about  the  writing, 
und  said,  exeitedly  :  "  Don't  write,  mother;  there  is  no  siek 
man  here.  That  tall  man  is  Elsie's  master,  and  they 
threatened  James's  life  when  they  had  him  up  stairs." 

"Daniel,  I  know  there  is  no  sick  man  here,"  I  said; 
"  but  they  do  not  think  I  dream  of  any  plot.  It  is  now 
midnight,  and  it  is  not  wise  to  let  theni  know  that  we  dis- 
trust them.     Bit  down  and  let  us  talk  naturally." 

The  doctor  now  returned  with  writing  material,  and  I 
sat  down  to  write  while  he  eonverse(l  with  my  son  on  the 
weather  and  kindred  topics.  Now  my  intention  in  writing 
to  Hamilton  was  to  .^^erve  the.'*e  slaveholders  by  defeating 
them.  J  knew,  too,  that  disiruisintr  mv  hand-writini'  was 
not  enough  to  reveal  to  the  Hamilton's  that  the  letter  was 
a  sham,  and  whatever  I  wrote  would  be  subjected  to  the 
perusal  of  my  employers  l)efore  it  was  sent.  At  this  hour, 
too,  a  messenger  could  not  probably  be  secured,  even  for 
twenty  dollars.  But  as  I  sealed  myself  at  the  table  and 
took  my  })en  in  the  manner  in  which  I  could  appear  to 
serve  the  slaveholders,  but  in  reality  defeat  them,  it  came 
to  me  like  a  flash,  and  I  cheerfully  wrote  all  they  dic- 
tated, not  omitting  the  fact  (?)  that  a  council  of  phy.si- 
cians  had  decided  that  John  Bayliss  could  not  live  to 
exceed  three  days ;  and  after  handing  it  to  the  doctor  and 
son-in-law  to  read,  I  rcMpiested  jn'miission  to  add  a  few 
lines  on  my  own  responsibility,  which  was  readily  granted,  as 
T  explained  to  them  that  Elsie  would  not  b(>  prepared  with 
regard  to  clothing,  either  for  her-self  or  children,  to])e  away 
so  long,  and  f  coidd  easily  loan  her  sullicient  garmeutij. 


JAMi:s    MAiniNS    SToFJY. 


1 


Tliis,  nt  cMiirsc,  was  jis  hiippy  ii  t\un\<^]\[.  for  them  as 
i'or  inyscll",  ami  was  si>  rcci-ivt'd.  "  IikIcimI,  madaiu,"  .«ai(l 
the  sun-in  law,  "  that  will  \)v  very  kind  in  yon.  Tlicy  can 
p't  iTady  HO  ninch  (jnicki-r."  tSo  1  added  to  my  K'ttcr  to 
\Vdlisa.«i  follows:  "Tell  Elsie  to  take  lor  liersell'  the  black 
alpaca  dnss  in  the  sonth  hed-rooni,  and  the  two  pink 
;.dni,diani  aprons  and  striped  flannel  dresses  in  \\\v  ))nreau 
Ml  the  west  room  for  tlu;  little  ^drls.  To  coini  to  Adrian, 
take  the  donhlo  team  and  farm  wajjon."  I  si^Mieil  my 
name  and  hande<l  the  letter  to  the  delighted  stranirer.  Ho 
then  j;av(^  my  son  a  li;_d>te<l  s})erm  candle  to  li;_dit  ns  over 
to  the  Indiana  Ilonse,  at  that  time  the  best  hottd  in  Toledo, 
and  kept  by  Salter  Cleveland  and  wife,  anti-slavery  I'riends 
of  ours.  This  light,  however,  served  them  to  follow  us, 
as  well  asguide  us  to  our  haven  of  safety. 

After  fettling  our.  ■•Ives  with  our  fricMids  to  tell  our  ad- 
ventures I  had  a  chance  to  hear  James  Martin's  story. 
After  tl;  1  failure  of  my  son  to  follow  James  and  the  porter 
up  stairs,  James  was  of  coiu'se  entirely  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemy.  At  the  head  of  the  stairs  they  W(>rc  met  by  an 
elderly  gentleman  with  a  lamp,  who  offered  to  conduct 
James  to  the  sick  room,  and  he  was  told  to  enter  the  first 
right  hand  door.  On  opening  the  door  he  found  no  one 
indside.  "Oh,"  said  his  guide,  "  they  have  moved  him  to 
the  next  room,  as  was  suggested  l)y  the  council  of  physi- 
cians this  afternoon;  we  will  find  him  there;"  and  oi)ening 
the  <loor  the  strang(>r  assumed  an  attitude  of  conunand 
and  told  him  to  go  in.  James,  however,  re])lied  :  "  I  shall 
Jiot  go  in,  sir;  you  can  see  as  well  as  I  that  the  room  is 
empty."  Th(^  stranger  gave  a  surprised  look  at  the  interior 
of  the  room  and  said:  "Oh,  I  iruess  thev  moved  him  to 
the  farther  room,  as  some  one  suggested,  after  all.  As 
there  is  no  other  room  he  can  be  in,  you  will  certainly 
find  him  there." 

By  this  time,  of  course,  James  began  thoroughly  to 
distrust  his  conductor,  and  hesitated  about  going  farther; 


1 


L-  ' 


n 


72 


A    woman's    IJI'K-WfmK. 


l)ut  desiring  to  iiiiikc  nil  tlu-  discdvcrios  possiltlc^,  iiiul  think- 
ing it'  vii)lciU'o  was  uttcnijitcd  lie  could  nm  down  Htuirs  to 
ii«,  lio  pas.scd  on  to  tin'  third  door,  and  throwni;,'  it  wide 
<i|K'n  i'oinid  this  room  ulso  onipty.  lie  wus  ahout  turning 
hack  whrn  two  other  men  ^uddeidy  appeared  through  a 
door  at  the  left,  and  the  three  surrounded  him,  one  level- 
ing a  revolver  at  liis  head,  another  at  ids  I)reast,  and  tlio 
tliird  pointing  a  dirk  at  ids  side,  all  indulging  in  an  in 
discriminate  volley  of  oaths  and  threats.  Said  his  grey- 
haired  guide  (who  afterwards  proved  to  be  .John  P.  Ches- 
ter, Klsie's  master,  the  same  who  had  enacted  to  me  the 
role  of  the  sym})athetic  piiysician ),  "  If  you  stir  or  sjx'ak 
one  Word  we'll  kill  you.  (Jo  into  that  room,  or  you're  a 
dead  man."  In  this  position  they  entered  the  room  and  locked 
tlie  door.     "Now,  Hamilton,  we've  got  you,  damn  you.'' 

"My  name  is  not  IlamiUon,  hut  James  Martin,"  was 
James'  reply. 

"Damn  you,"  rejoined  Chester,  "I  know  you;  you 
were  once  a  slave  in  'I'ennessee." 

"No,  sir,  I  never  Mas  ji  slave,  nor  was  I  ever  in  a  slave 
state.  I  was  l)orii  and  brought  up  in  the  State  of  New 
York." 

"  Tlien  you're  a  d <1  si)y,  and  I've  a  great  mintl 

to  .«iioot  you  this  ndnute,"  said  Chester. 

"If  you  call  me  a  spy  l)ecausc  I  came  liere  to  sec  Mr. 
John  liayliss  for  Mr.  Ilannlton,  then  you  can  do  so,  for  this  is 
wliy  I  am  liere,  and  I  came  here  witli  no  intention  of  liarm 
to  any  one.  I  am  entirely  unarmed,  I  have  not  ho  much 
as  a  penknife  with  which  to  defend  myself,  hut  I  tell  you, 
gentlemen,  I  have  frii'uds  here  in  this  house." 

At  this  they  dropju'd  their  weapons  as  hy  an  clectrie 
shock,  and  Chester  exclaimed,  "You  shan't  he  hurt!  you 
shan't  he  Iiurt!"  Then  turning  to  his  .son:  "Tom,  put  up 
your  [)istol." 

"But,"  says  Tom,  "I  propose  to  search  him  and  .see 
whetlier  lie  's  clear  of  arms." 


iiliiiBBMI  IfJBBtfcMiMMIfliaMliyBiiiai 


TIIK  SI..\Vi;-n<)I,DKl;S   CONFfXHlON. 


7.) 


•'No!  you  shan't  do  it.     I  nckon  it's  n.s  ho  fays." 

Jiiinos,  seeing  tliat  they  wore  thoronghly  intimidated, 
now  felt  at  ids  ease.  Tlic  Soutlierners,  of  euuise,  di<l  not 
know  Imt  a  po.ssc  of  armed  men  awaited  tlieir  actions 
instead  of  one  little  woman  and  a  lad  of  seventeen.  Ches- 
ter now  addressetl  James  in  a  suhdiied  tone  and  maimer, 
nskinj;  him  to  sit  down,  "and  I'll  tell  you  all  ahout  it. 
Mr.  John  liayliss  is  hero  and  he  is  very  siek  ;  he  is  not 
oxjK'eted  to  live.  But  I  am  Klsie's  master;  my  name  is 
John  P.  Chester,  and  I  hou^ht  her  out  of  pure  benevo- 
lence to  pave  her  from  jioinjji;  down  the  river  with  a  drove. 
Willis  was  goinji;  from  house  to  house  begging  for  some 
one  to  buy  his  wife,  erying  and  taking  on  like  ho  was 
nearly  erazy,  and  I  felt  sorry  for  him,  and  told  him  if  he 
would  help  me  buy  her  by  paying  three  hundred  dollars 
in  work  for  me,  I  could  do  it,  and  he  entered  into  a  writ- 
ten agreement  with  me  that  I  was  to  feed  and  clothe  him 
the  same  as  my  other  servants,  and  give  him  a  good  price 
for  his  work  ;  but  before  he  had  been  with  me  a  year  ho 
took  my  projierty  and  ran  away  with  it,  and  now  I  want 
to  get  it  back." 

**  Why  don't  you  go  and  get  it  then?"  said  James. 

"  Oh,  there  's  such  a  set  of  d d  abolitionists  there  I 

can  't  do  it,"  said  Chester.  "  Hamilton  w  cote  to  me  that  he 
had  put  in  ten  acres  of  wheat  this  fall  on  shares  on  a 
widow  lady's  farm,  and  that  he  had  a  yoke  of  oxen,  two 
cows,  pigs  and  chickens." 

"Yes,"  said  James,  "  that  is  all  true." 

"Well,"  said  Chester,  "you  can  have  all  he  has  there, 
besides  any  amount  of  money  you  please  to  name,  if  you 
will  assist  mo  in  getting  him  and  his  family  here.  Will 
you  do  it?" 

James  replied,  very  carelessly,  "Well,  I  don't  know 
Imt  I  will  for  enough." 

"  You  see,"  said  Chester,  "  if  I  can  get  them  here,  I 
can  get  help  from  one  place  to  another  in  Ohio,  and  when 

7 


\  n' 


i^   ^  vf 


I    \  y 


I    : 


74 


A  woman's  lifk-work. 


I  strike  Kentucky  I  W  be  all  right."  In  laying  plans  and 
making  arrangcnicTits  they  consnincd  two  hours'  time,  and, 
as  the  reader  will  i-enieniber,  1  became  nervous  and  sent 
for  James,  after  which  1  had  my  experience  with  the  doc- 
tor and  the  sick  man. 

After  finding  ourselves  quietly  seated  with  our  friends 
in  their  private  j)arl')r,  before  we  had  iiiirly  finished  re- 
lating our  adventures,  the  night  watch  came  in  with  the 
rejxtrt  that  three  men  were  pacing  around  the  house  at 
ai)out  ccpial  distances,  whom  he  suspected  to  be  burglars. 
Orders  were  given  to  keep  the  outside  rooms  lighted,  and 
if  any  attempt  was  nuule  to  enter  to  ring  the  alarm  bell 
and  assistance  would  be  forthcoming.  Morning  light,  how- 
ever, revealed  to  the  watchmen  that  their  susix?eted  burg- 
lars were  the  tlirec  Southerners,  who  had  sto})ped  at  the 
Ii'.diana  House  a  few  <'iys,  but  not  finding  co-operation 
probable  in  their  slave-hunting  business,  had  changed  their 
quarters  to  the  Toledo  Hotel.  I  recognized  my  doctor  and 
the  son-in-law;  and  the  other,  a  tall,  slender  young  man 
of  twenty-two,  was  my  sick  and  suffering  deacon,  who  an 
hour  previous  had  been  so  near  death's  door.  Their  object, 
of  course,  in  guarding  the  house,  was  to  sec  that  we  sent  no 
messenger  to  defeat  the  letter  I  had  so  kindly  written  for 
them.  l)Ut  on  this  matter  I  gave  myself  no  concern,  as 
Klsie  was  as  well  accpiainted  with  my  wardrobe  as  I  was, 
and  would  know  at  once  that  it  eontaiiu'd  no  such  articles 
as  T  jucntioni'd  ;  also,  that  the  house  had  no  south  bed- 
room, and  no  bureau  in  the  west  room,  neither  was  there 
a  double  team  nor  a  farm  wagon  on  the  place.  Consequently 
I  had  no  fears  that  the  letter  was  not  faithfullv  fulfilling 
its  n^s.-ion. 

A  few  mimites  before  we  left  the  hotel  for  the 
<S  o'clock  train  to  return  homo  a  colored  man  came  to 
James,  evide'itly  quite  excited,  and  said:  "We  have  just 
heard  there  is  a  colored  man  here  having  troul)le  with 
slave-holders ;  if  this  is  true,  there  are  enou'di  of  us  liero 


FOLLOW F-D    HV    .SLAVK-IUNTKHS. 


ID 


to  do  whatever  is  neeossary."  James  did  not  reply,  hut 
looked  iiKjuiringly  at  me.  I  replied,  "There  is  troiihle," 
and  takin<f  him  into  a  haek  room,  pivc  him  a  brief  sketch 
of  James's  experienee.  I  told  him  I  did  not  think  it  prol)- 
ahle  that  violence  wonld  he  offered  in  daylight,  hut  as  ^fr. 
('leveland  and  son  were  both  ill,  we  would  like  to  know 
who  our  friends  were  at  the  depot.  He  assured  me  wo, 
should  have  all  the  aid  we  needed.  "While  at  the  depot," 
said  he,  "  we  shall  wateh  both  you  and  the  slave-holders, 
and  whatever  you  desire  us  to  do,  madam,  say  the  word, 
and  it  shall  be  done."  I  thanked  him,  but  did  not  think 
there  would  be  any  diflieulty. 

The  three  Southerners  were  at  the  depot  as  soon  as  we 
uere.  In  the  tieket  office  James  gave  np  going,  as  Ik; 
thought  they  intended  going  with  us.  But  this  I  did  not 
care  for,  and  told  James  he  must  go  now,  as  there  was  no 
other  train  until  night,  and  there  was  no  telling  what  they 
might  do  under  cover  of  darkness.  When  we  got  to  the 
cars  the  doctor  and  son-in-law  jumped  aboard,  but  the  sick 
man  was  determined  to  take  his  seat  with  me,  and  followed 
my  son  and  myself  from  coacli  to  coach,  and  whenever 
"we  showed  any  signs  of  seating  ourselves  prepared  to  seat 
himself  op|>osite.  I  looked  at  his  snakish  eyes,  and  con- 
cluded to  leave  my  sick  deacon  to  .ice  James,  who  still  lin- 
gered in  the  ticket  office. 

I  again  urged  him  to  go  with  me,  as  I  should  take  an- 
other coach  when  I  returned  and  get  rid  of  tiic  Souther- 
ners, AV^hen  I  returned  I  ran  past  the  coach  I  had  left, 
and  Daniel  beckoned  to  me,  saying,  "  Here,  mother,  this 
is  the  car  we  to(»k."  "  Yes,"  I  .«aid,  "  but  I  .see  a  la<lv 
ahead    that    I  wish    to  sit    with."      At   this   the   sick    man 

jumped   np  and   exclaimed,  "I'll   be  d d   if  I   don't 

take  that  s<>at  then."  liut  Dam'el  pressed  his  way  past 
him,  and  noticed  his  heavily-laden  ovcM'coat  i)ocket.  By 
the  time  my  son  reached  nie  there  was  no  r(M)m  near  U8 
for  the  sick  deacon,  so  he  returned  to  his  first  seat. 


1 


t  'm 


ir-A 


«    iv 


««' 


i 


} 

V 

:.' 

\' 


70 


b..', 


A    WOMAN  S    LIFK-WORK. 


Dtirinj;  jill  this  time  about  a  dozen  men,  blaek  and 
■\vliite,  were  wiitehiiig  us  closely.  I  heekoned  the  one  who 
called  on  us  at  the  hotel  to  come  to  our  apartments,  and 
told  him  to  tell  James  to  como  immediately  to  my  door. 
Jle  came,  and  I  oi)ene(l  the  door  and  told  him  to  enter,  as 
the  train  was  al)out  moving.  When  he  was  inside  he  says: 
"  I  !im  afraid  we  will  have  trouble."  Just  then  the  con- 
ductor passed,  and  1  said  to  him  :  "  I  supj^sc  wc  will  be 
j)erf'('('tly  stif'e  here,  should  we  have  trouble  on  our  way  to 
Adriau."  "  ^Fost  certaiidy,"  he  said  (raising  his  voice  to 
the  highest  i)it('h;.  "  I  vouch  ibr  the  perfect  safety  and 
])rotectioi\  of  every  individual  on  board  this  train." 

Near  Sylvania,  a  small  town  ten  miles  from  Toledo,  the 
train  halted  to  sand  the  track,  and  our  chivalrous  friends 
got  otf.  Chester  and  his  son  Thomas,  ''he  sick  deacon, 
stationed  themselves  about  three  feet  from  us;  and  Ches- 
ter, i)ointing  to  James,  said  in  a  low,  grum  voice:  "  Wv  '11 
see  you  alone  some  time;"  and,  turning  to  my  son,  "  You, 
too,  young  man."  Then  directing  his  volley  of  wrath  to 
me,  he  roared  out:  "liiit  that  lady  there — you  nigger 
sletder — you  tiiat  's  got  my  property  and  the  avails  of  it — 
I'll  show  you,  you  nigger  thi(>f;"  and  drawing  a  revolver 
from  his  pocket,  his  son  doing  the  same,  they  pointed  them 
towards  my  face,  Chester  again  bawling  out,  "  You  sec 
these  tools,  do  you?  We  have  more  of  'em  here"  (holding 
up  a  traveling  l)ag),  "and  we  kiu)W  how  to  use  them.  We 
shall  stay  about  here  three  weeks,  and  we  will  have  ih.at 
j)ropcrty  you  have  in  your  i)ossession  yet,  you  d d  nig- 


ger stealer.  We  understand  ourselves.  We  know  what 
we  are  about." 

"  Man,  I  fpar  neither  your  weaj^ons  nor  your  threats; 
they  are  })ow('rless.  You  are  not  at  home — you  are  not  in 
Tennessee.  And  as  for  your  proi»erty,  I  have  none  of  it 
about  me  or  on  my  premises.  We  also  know  what  wc  are 
about ,   we  also  un<lerstand,  not  only  ourselves,  but  you." 

Pale  and  trembling  with  rage  they  still  shook  their  pis- 


> 

0 


!i    i 


m 


1 

■ 

,f 

{ 

.     \ 

I 

^ 

I  '           ' 

=»* 


ii; 


«ni 


^ll 


^Jr:!^ 


c 


lie 


RKTUKX    Iro^fK. 


77 


tol.s  ill  my  faco,  and  Chester,  in  a  cliuked  voice,  exclaimed: 
"  I  '11 — 1  '11 — I  ^V()n't  .«ay  much  more  to  you — you  're  a 
"Nvoman — but  that  young  man  of  yours;  I  '11  give  live  hun- 
dred dollars  if  he'll  go  to  Kentucky  with  me." 

Just  then  the  conductor  appeared  and  cried  out:  *'  AVhat 
arc  you  doing  here,  you  villaincnis  scoundrels?  We  'U  have 
you  arrested  in  five  minutes."  At  this  they  fled  j)re<'ipi- 
tately  to  the  woods,  and  the  la.st  we  saw  of  these  tall  and 
valiant  representatives  of  the  land  of  chivalry  Mere  their 
heels  fast  receding  in  the  thicket. 

Of  course,  this  hrave  exhibition  of  rhetoric  and  valor 
called  out  innumerable  (piestions  from  the  i)assengers;  and 
from  there  on  to  Adrian,  though  already  ti-rribly  fatigued, 
we  had  to  be  continually  framing  replies  aiid  making  ex- 
l)lanations. 

Among  the  people  of  Sylvania  (he  news  spread  like 
wildHre,  and  it  was  re])orted  that  over  forty  men  were  at 
the  depot  with  hand-spikes  and  iron  bars,  ready  to  tear  up 
the  track  in  case  the  Hamilton  family  had  been  ftnmd  ou 
(he  train  bound  for  Toledo. 

When  we  arrived  at  Adrian  mv  ohlest  son,  Ilarvev, 
and  Willis  were  there  to  m(>et  us;  and  when  we  told  Willis 
that  Elsie's  old  master  and  his  son  had  but  an  hour  })re- 
viously  pointed  ))istols  at  our  heads  and  threatened  our 
lives,  he  could  hardly  speak  from  astonishment.  Harvey 
said  my  letter  arrived  beCorc  sum'ise,  but  that  no  one  be- 
lieved I  had  any  thing  to  do  with  it.  However,  as  the 
l)orter  swore  he  saw  me  write  it,  Professor  Patchin  and  .J. 
F.  Dolbeare  were  sent  for;  but  they  also  distrusted  its  va- 
lidity and  the  truthfulness  of  the'beurer. 

Klsie  had  no  faith  in  it  at  all.  "  If,"  .sjiid  she,  "  tho 
old  man  is  so  verv  sick,  as  he  hasn't  s-cn  us  for  veary, 
they  could  bring  him  any  black  .in  m»<l  womun.  and  c.iU 
them  Willis  and  Klsie,  aii  1  he  'd  n.      r  know  the  difference; 


t^l 


and  as  for  that  letter,  Mrs.  Ilaviland 
li<vc  the  slave-holdi'rs  wrote  it  i 


saw  it.     I  be- 
They  Lhuugbt, 


78 


A  woman's  I.IFE-WORK. 


d 


as  she  was  a  widow,  she  VI  liave  a  l)lack  dres.s,  and  you 
know  she  has  n't  got  one  in  the  house.  And  wliere  's  the 
pink  aprons  and  green  striped  dresses?  And  tlierc's  no 
Koutli  bed-room  in  tins  house.  It 's  all  humbug ;  and  I 
sha'n't  stir  a  step  until  I  see  JNIrs.  Haviland." 

tSaid  another:  "These  things  look  queer.  There's  uo 
bureau  in  the  west  room." 

The  porter,  seeing  he  could  not  get  the  family,  offered 
Willis  ten  dollars  if  he  would  go  to  Palmyra  with  him, 
but  he  refused,  lie  then  oflered  it  to  my  sou  Harvey  if 
he  would  lake  Willis  to  Palmyra. 

"  No,  sir ;  I  shall  take  him  nowhere  but  to  Adrian,  to 
meet  mother,"  was  Harvey's  reply. 

After  their  arrival  in  Adrian  the  porter  again  offered  the 
ten  dollars,  and  Lawyer  Perkins  and  others  advised  Harvey 
to  take  it  and  give  it  to  Willis,  as  they  wouhl  protect  him 
i'vom  all  harm.  But  when  I  came  I  told  him  not  to  touch 
it;  and  the  porter,  drawing  near,  heard  my  explanation  of 
the  letter,  and  the  threatening  remarks  of  the  people,  wiio 
tleclared  that  if  slave-holders  should  attempt  to  take  tiie 
IIamilt(m  family  or  any  other  escaj)ed  slave  from  our  city 
or  county  they  would  see  trouble.  lie  soon  gave  us  the 
benefit  of  his  absence,  and  we  went  home  with  thankful 
lu'arts  that  public  sentiment  had  made  a  law  too  stn»i!ig  to 
allow  avaricious  and  unpiuiti})led  men  to  cast  our  perse- 
cuted neighbors  back  into  the  seething  cauhlrou  of  Amer- 
ican slavery. 

All  that  day  our  house  was  thronged  with  visitors, 
calmer  to  hear  the  storv  which  was  aL^itatiuL'  the  whole  com- 
numity,  but  about  midnight  I  told  my  friends  that  rest 
was  a  necessity,  for  never  in  my  life  was  I  so  thoroughly 
ex'aausted  from  talking;  but,  as  tlie  next  day  was  the 
Babbtith,  I  would  ru  the  evening  meet  all  who  chose  to 
come  in  the  Valley  St''hu«)l-house  (at  that  day  the  largest 
in  the  c<»untv)  and  tell  them  the  whole  storv,  and  save 
re}>eating  it  so  many  times. 


MKKTINCJ  AT  TIIP:  SCHUOL-IIorSK. 


79 


Wlii'U  the  cvi'iiiii^'  caiiH'  wo  met  a  laiyc  r  crowd  than 
coiiM  iiiid  stand  in;,'- room  in  the  K'hool-houso,  and  report 
said  thore  was  a  spy  for  the  shivc-holder.s  under  u  window 
outside. 

I  rehited  the  whole  story,  oniittin<^  nothing,  and  was 
foUowed  by  Ehjah  Brownell,  one  of  our  al)le.st  anti-sUivery 
lecturers,  with  a  few  s})irited  remarks.  lie  suggested  tliat 
a  collection  should  he  taken  up  to  defray  our  ex|)ense.s  to 
Toledo  and  return,  and  fourteen  doUans  wa.s  so<»n  }»laced 
in  my  hands. 

From  a  friend  of  our  h'tter-carrier,  the  porter  of  the 
Toledo  Hotel,  we  learned  that  the^phiiis  of  tiie  slave-holder.s 
accorded  with  tlntse  given  James  Martin  in  tin;  sick-room. 
After  getting  the  Hamilton  family  in  their  clutches  they 
intended  to  gag  and  hind  them,  and,  traveling  nights, 
convey  them  from  one  point  to  another  until  they  reached 
Kentucky.  This  was  precisely  on  the  ]»lan  of  our  under- 
ground railroad,  hut  happily  for  the  cau.se  of  freedom,  in 
this  case  at  least,  not  as  successful. 

The  citizens  of  Adrian  appointed  a  meeting  at  tho  "i 
eourt-hou.><c,  and  sent  for  mc;  to  atrain  tell  the  storv  of  the 
slavehohler  Avho  had  so  deeply  laid  his  plans  to  cai)ture, 
not  only  his  fugitive  slave  Klsie  and  her  fouV;i'ritldren,  hut 
also  her  husband,  who  was  a  free  man.  Other  meetings 
were  called  to  take  measures  for  securing  the  safi-ty  of  the 
hunted  family  from  the  iron  grasp  of  the  oppressor,  whose 
arm  is  ever  strong  and  powerful  in  the  cau.H'  of  evil;  and 
so  great  was  public  excitement  that  the  chivalrous  sons  of 
the  South  found  our  Northern  climate  too  warm  for  their 
constitutions,  and  betook  themselves  to  the  milder  climate 
of  Tennessee  with  as  great  speed  as  their  hunted  .^lave, 
■with  her  husband,  hastened  awav  from  there  fifteen  vi-ars 
bvfore. 

It  may  be  a.>iked  how  the  C'hesters  <liscovered  that 
Hamilton  and  his  wife  were  in  Michigan.  Wc  learned 
aftirward    that    .b/mi    \\   Chester  was    the   postmaster  at 


i\ 


i 


0 


ii  '\ 


t 


nMr 


80 


A    WOMAN'.S    LIFE-WOUK. 


Jonos1)nn)ii<:li,  uiid  receivin.ij:  a  letter  ut  his  ofFiec  diroeted 
to  .ioliu  Jiiiyliss,  he  suspected  it  to  he  from  friends  of  his 
former  shives,  and  opened  it.  His  suspicions  heing  con- 
lirmcd,  he  (Iclaini'd  the  letter,  and  hotli  corresponded  and 
came  ^'orth  in  the  assumed  character  of  Bayliss.  His 
schcmcH  miscarried,  as  wo  have  ahove  narrated,  and  Bayliss 
prohahly  never  knew  of  the  desperate  game  played  in 
his  name. 

Ahout  two  weeks  after  the  doi)arturG  of  this  noble  trio 
I  received  a  threatening  letter  from  .John  P.  Chester,  to 
which  r  rcj)licd  ;  and  this  was  followed  l)y  a  correspond- 
ence with  his  son,  Thomas  K.  Chester  (the  sick  deac(ni). 
From  these  letters  we  shall  give  a  few  extracts. 

In  a  letter  received  under   the  dato  of   Decend)er  3, 
1H4(),    John  P.  Chester  writes:    "I  presume  you   do    iiot 
want  something   for  nothing;   and  inasmuch  as  you  have 
my  properly  in  your  possession,  and  are  so  great  a  philan- 
thropist, you  will  feel   hound  to  remunerate   me   for  that 
])ropcn(y.     ...     If  there  is   any  law   of  the  laud  to 
compd  you  to  j)ay  for  them  I  intend  to  have  it." 
L)  my  reply,  l)eccud)er  20,  l<S4fi,  I  wrote : 
"First,   convince    me   that  you  have   property  iu  my 
possession,  and  you  shall  have  the  utmost  farthing.     But 
if  AVillis  Hamilton  and  family  are  property  in  my  posses- 
sion, then  are   Ilev.  .Toim  Patchiu  and  wife,  principals  of 
Kaisin  Institute,  and  other  neighbors,  property  in  my  pos- 
session, as  I  have  dealing  with  each  family,  precisely  in  tho 
same  manner  that  I  have  with  Willis  Hamilton  and  family, 
and  I  do  as  truly  recognize  i)roperty  in  my  other  neighbors 
as  in  the  Hamilton  family.     Prove  my  position  fallacious, 
and    not    predicated  on    ])rinciples    of   eternal    right,    and 
they  may  may  be  blown  to  the  four  winds  of  heaven.     If 
carnal  weapons  can  be  brought  to  bear  upon  the  spiritual 
vou  shall  have  the  libertv   to  do  it  with   the  six-shooters 


fl 


vou  iiouris 


he<l  t< 


(1 


f 


owanl  mv  tace  \n  ^vlvaina, 


Dl 


no. 


As  for  my  being  compelled  to  pay  you  for  this  alleged 


AN  insultim;  lkttku. 


81 


pr()i>or(y,  to  this  I  liiivo  hut  little  to  say,  us  it  is  the  least 
of  all  my  trouhk-s  iii  this  lower  world.  1  will  say,  how- 
ever, I  stand  ready  to  meet  whatever  you  may  think 
l)ro[)er  to  do  in  the  ease.  {Should  you  think  best  to  make 
us  another  call,  1  eouid  not  vouch  for  your  safety.  The 
circumstances  connected  with  this  case  have  been  .such  that 
great  excitement  has  prevailed.  A  numln'r  of  my  neigh- 
bors have  kept  arms  since  our  return  fnjm  Toledo.  I  can  say 
with  the  Psalmist,  'I  am  for  peace,  but  they  are  for  war.' 

"At  a  public  meeting  called  the  next  evening  after  our 
return  from  the  Toledo  trip,  fourteen  dollars  was  }>laced  in 
my  hands  as  a  remuneration  for  the  assistance  I  rendered 
in  examining  your  very  sick  patient.  I  found  the  disease 
truly  alarming,  far  beyond  the  reach  of  human  aid,  much 
deeper  than  bilious  fever,  although  it  might  have  assumed 
a  ty[»hoid  grade.  The  l)lister  that  you  Avere  immediately 
to  api)ly  on  the  back  of  the  patient  (Mnild  not  extract 
tliat  dark,  deep  i)laguc-si)!)t  of  slavery,  too  api)arent  U)  be 
misunderstood." 

I  received  a  long  list  of  epithets  in  a  letter,  bear- 
ing date,  Jonesl)oro,  Tennessee,  Fi'bruary  7,  1847,  from 
Thomas  K.  Chester,  the  sick  deacon: 

"I  have  thougiit  it  my  duty  to  answer  your  pack  of 
balderdash,  .  .  .  that  you  presumetl  to  reply  to  my 
father,  as  I  was  with  him  on  his  tour  to  ^Tichigan,  and  a 
])articipant  in  all  his  transactions,  even  to  tlie  acting  the 
sick  man's  part  in  Toledo.  .  .  .  True  it  is,  })y  your 
.cunning  villainies  you  have  deprived  us  of  our  just  rights, 
of  our  own  i)roperty.  .  .  .  Thanks  bo  to  au  ullwiso 
and  Drovident  CJod  that  my  father  has  more  of  that  sable 
kind  V  ^  busy  fellows,  gr:^asy,  slick,  and  fat ;  and  they  are 
not  cheated  to  <Latli  out  f)i  their  hanl  earnings  by  villainous 
and  infernal  abolitionists,  whose  philanthro])y  is  interest, 
and  whose  only  desire  is  to  swindle  the  slave-holder  out  of 
liis  own  property,  and  convert  it.s  labor  to  their  uwu 
infernal  aggrandizement. 


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ill  ■ 


82 


».» 


A    WOMAN  H    MFK-WOlilv. 


"1l  i.s  cxccfdiiijily  uiipltasmt  lor  mo  to  iiidulgo  in 
ulmsc,  piirlicnlarly  to  u  iviniudi,  iiud  1  would  not  now  do 
it,  dl<l  1  not  tlrl  ii  perfect  e(»iii<(;i<)iisnes«<  of  rii,dit  and 
duty.  .  .  .  Wlio  do  you  tliink  would  i)arley  with  a 
tliief,  u  roliher  of  nian'.s  just  riglit.s,  recoj^Mji/i'd  by  llie  glo- 
rious (-on.stitulion  of  our  Union!  >Su(,'li  a  condescension 
>vould  danni  an  h(»nest  man,  would  put  modesty  to  the 
blusli.  What!  to  engage  in  a  contest  with  you?  a  rogue, 
a  daiiinahle  thief,  a  negro  thief,  an  outhreaker,  a  criminal 
in  the  sight  of  all  honest  men  ;  .  .  .  the  mother,  too,  of 
u  pusillaniuious  smi,  who  permitted  me  (o  curse  and  danni 
you  in  Sylvania  !  I  would  rather  he  caught  with  another 
nnm's  sheep  on  my  hack  than  to  engage  in  such  a  sulijtct, 
and  with  such  an  individual  as  old  Laura  llaviland,  a 
damned  nigger-stealer. 

"  You  can  tell  10l.-ii>  that  since  our  retiu'ii  my  father 
l)ought  her  eldest  daughter;  that  she  is  now  his  property, 
luul  the  mother  of  a  likely  hoy,  that  I  call  Daniel  llavi- 
land  after  your  pretty  son.  She  has  plenty  to  eat,  and  has 
shoes  in  the  Winter,  an  article  Willis's  children  had  not 
when  1  was  there,  although  it  was  cold  enough  to  freeze 
the  horns  off  the  cows,  .  .  .  What  do  you  thiidv  your 
portion  will  he  at  the  great  day  of  ju«lgment?  I  think  it 
will  Ik)  the  inner  temple  of  hell." 

In  my  reply,  dated  luiisin,  March  10,  \s47,  I  informed 
tlu'  sick  (ivacoii  that  my  letter  to  his  fiither  "had  served 
as  a  moral  emetic,  hy  the  mass  of  hlack,  hilious,  .ind  putrid 
matter  it  had  sent  I'orth.  You  must  hav(!  been  exercised 
with  as  great  distress,  as  extrenu;  pain,  that  was  producing 
)>aroxysms  and  vomiting,  that  you  had  in  your  sick-room 
in  the  Toledo  hotel,  when  your  physician  was  so  hastily 
called  to  your  relief  hy  your  son-in-law,  as  the  matter  that 
lies  before  me  in  letter  form  is  as  'black,'  and  much 
more  'bilious,'  and  nearer  'mortilication'  than  that  I 
saw  there. 

"  We  thank  you  for  the  name's  sake.     May  he  possess 


A  RLAVi>ii()M>i:i{  s  i.irri'KU. 


«;i 


the  wisdom  *>i'  a  Daiiit  1  of  old,  altlioii^di  liis  lot  be  east  iii 
tlio  lions'  (leu;  and,  like  Mcists,  may  ho  Ix'conjo  instru- 
mental in  h'jidinL''  his  iicoplii  away  from  a  worse  hoiuhigo 
than  that  ol'  J\t:y|>t. 

"According  !(»  your  logic,  we  arc  not  only  rohhing 
the  slaveholder,  lait  the  jxior  slave  of  hi.s  valnalde  home, 
■where  he  can  enjoy  the  elevating  and  soul-ennohling  priv- 
ilege of  looking  'greasy,  slick,  and  fat' — can  have  the 
j)rivilege  of  In  ing  forhidden  the  lal)ori<tus  task  of  culti- 
vating his  intelk'ct  —  is  i'orhidden  to  claim  his  wife  and 
children  as  I'.is  own  instead  of  the  j)roperty  of  John  1*. 
Chester." 

I  piiied  the  young  man,  whose  bitterness  of  hate  seemed 
incorrigihh;,  and  gave  advices  which  I  d(>emed  wholesome, 
although  I  yielded  to  the  temptation  of  dealing  somewhat 
in  irony  and  sarcasm. 

I'nit  the  next  letter  from  the  sick  deacon  was  fdled  and 
running  over  with  vulgar  hlackguardisni,  that  I  would 
neither  answer  nor  give  to  the  ])ul)lie  eye.  It  was  directed 
to  "  Laiu'a  S.  Ilaviland,  K^([.,  or  Dan.''  As  it  arrived  in 
my  ah.-ence,  my  son  Daniel  handed  it  to  liev.  John  I'atchin, 
who  became  ho  indignant  in  reading  the  list  of  epithet.s  that 
he  proposed  to  rei)ly. 

The  fn'st  sentence  of  his  letter  was: 

"  Sir, — As  John  ()uincv  Adams  and  Ilenrv  Clav  wi're 
seated  in  Congress,  they  saw  jiassing  on  tlu;  street  a  drove 
of  jackasst's.  Said  llinry  Clay,  'There,  Mr.  Adams,  is  ji 
eomjjany  of  your  constituents  as  they  come  from  the 
Korth.'  'All  riidit;  they  are  going  South  to  teach  yours,' 
was  the  (piick  reply.  And  I  think  one  of  those  long- 
eared  animals  has  straved  down  your  wav,  and  vour  nui 
might  have  sent  you  to  his  school — I  think,  however,  but 
a  lew  weeks,  or  your  epistolary  correspondence  with  Mrs. 
Ilaviland  would  havt;  been  vastly  improved." 

From  the  rej)ort  my  son  gave  nse  of  the  short  epistle, 
it  was   lilled   with  sentences  couched    in    the   same  sj)irit 


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A  wo:man's  life-work. 


throughout;  "for,"  said  lie,  "that  nibid  firc-cutcr  liiis  hcou 
treated  in  a  iimiuier  too  mild,  lie  needs  something  more 
nearly  like  his  own  eoin," 

I  shortly  after  received  a  few  lines  from  Thomas  K. 
Chester,  informing  me  that  he  had  my  last  letter  struck 
off  in  hand-bills,  and  circulated  in  a  number  of  the  South- 
ern Statefi,  "over  its  true  signature,  Laura  S.  llaviland, 
as  you  dictated  and  your  daughter  wrote  it;  for,  as  strange 
as  it  may  appear,  I  have  the  handwriting  of  every  one  of 
your  family,  and  also  of  AVillis  Hamilton.  I  distribute 
these  hand-bills  for  the  purjwse  of  letting  the  South  sec 
"vvhat  sort  of  sisters  they  have  in  the  North."  We  learned 
from  a  number  of  sources  that  to  this  circular  or  hand-bill 
■svas  attached  a  reward  of  $3,000  for  my  head. 

As  for  the  letter  that  Chester  had  richly  earned,  nei- 
ther my  daughter  nor  myself  had  the  privilege  of  jK'rusing 
it,  as  it  was  nuvled  before  my  return  home.  But  I  j)re- 
suine  the  indignant  writer  designed  to  close  the  unpleasant 
correspondence. 


SECOND  EFFORT  TO  RETATTE  THE  HAMILTON  FAMILY. 

After  the  passage  of  the  famous  Fugitive-slave  Bill  of 
1850,  turning  the  whole  population  of  the  North  into  slave- 
hunters,  Thomas  K.  Chester,  with  renewed  assurance,  camo 
to  Lawyer  Beacher's  office,  in  Adrian,  and  solicited  his  serv- 
ices in  capturing  the  Hamiltons,  as  ho  was  now  prepared  to 
take  legal  steps  in  recovering  his  property.     Said  he : 

"  I  ask  no  favors  of  Adrian  or  Raisin,  as  I  have  my 
posse  of  thirty  men  within  a  stone's  throw  of  this  city. 
All  I  ask  is  legal  authority  from  you,  Mr.  Beacher,  and  I 
can  easily  get  them  in  my  possession." 

"I  can  not  aid  you,"  said  Mr.  Beacher;  "it  would 
ruin  my  practice  as  a  laAvycr." 

"I  will  give  you  SI  00,  besides  your  fee,"  rejoined  Chester. 

"  You  have  not  enough  money  in  your  State  of  Ten- 
nessee to  induce  me  to  assist  you  in  any  way  whatever." 


,^. 


,H.  ij,«.*>f.^f^'«-;"'.-'"W1- ■'■'•''•■ 


A  lawyer's  advice. 


85 


"Will  you  direct  mc  to  a  lawyer  who  will  aid  mc?" 

"I  can  not;  I  know  of  none  in  our  State  who  could 
be  hired  to  assist  you.  And  I  advise  you  to  return  to 
your  home ;  for  you  will  lose  a  hundred  dollars  where  you 
will  gain  one,  if  you  pursue  it." 

At  this  advice  he  became  enraged,  and  swore  he  would 
have  them  this  time,  at  any  cost.  "And  if  old  Laura  Ilavi- 
land  interferes  I  'U  \nit  her  in  prison.  I  acknowledge  she 
outwitted  us  before ;  ])ut  let  her  dare  prevent  my  taking 
them  this  time,  and  I  '11  bo  avenged  on  her  before  I  leave 
this  State." 

"All  the  advice  I  have  to  give  you  is  to  abandon  this 
scheme,  for  you  will  find  no  jail  in  this  State  that  will  hold 
that  woman.  And  1  reruest  you  not  to  enter  my  offi(!o 
again  on  this  business,  for  if  it  were  known  to  the  public  it 
would  injure  my  practice ;  and  I  shall  not  recognize  you 
on  the  street." 

In  a  lower  tone  Chester  continued,  "I  request  you, 
]\Ir.  Bcacher,  as  a  gentleman,  to  keep  my  name  and  busi- 
ness a  secret."     With  a  few  imprecations  he  left  the  office. 

IMy  friend  R.  Beacher  sent  a  disi)atch  to  me  at  once 
l)y  Sheriff  Spafford,  to  secure  the  safety  of  the  Hamilton 
family  at  once,  if  still  on  my  premises,  as  my  Tennessee 
correspondents  Averc  probably  in  or  near  Adrian.  I  in- 
formed him  they  were  safe  in  Canada  within  six  months 
after  the  visit  from  the  Chesters.  Mr.  Bcacher  also  ad- 
vised me  to  make  my  property  safe  without  delay,  but 
this  had  been  done  two  years  previously.  On  receiving 
this  information  my  friend  Beacher  replied,  "Had  I  known 
this  I  would  have  sent  for  her,  for  I  'd  give  ten  dollars 
to  see  them  meet."  Mr.  Chester  heard  that  the  Hamilton 
family  had  gone  to  Canada,  but  he  did  not  believe  it,  as 
he  also  heard  they  had  gone  to  Ypsilanti,  in  this  State, 
wliere  he  said  he  should  follow  them. 

We  learned  in  the  secpial  that  he  went  to  Ypsilanti, 
and  took  rooms  and  board  in  a  hotel,  while  calling  on 


If!' 


86 


A  woman's  life-work. 


It 


every  colcred  family  iu  town  and  for  two  or  three  miles 
around  it,  sometimes  as  a  drcjver,  at  other  times  an  agent 
to  make  arrangements  for  pnreha.sing  wood  and  charcoal. 
During  four  weeks  he  found  a  llimily  that  answered  the 
description  of  the  Hamilton  tiimily  in  color  and  number. 
He  wrote  to  his  father  that  he  had  found  them  under  an 
assumed  name,  and  requested  him  to  send  a  man  who 
could  recognize  them,  as  they  had  been  away  over  eighteen 
years.  The  man  was  sent,  and  two  weeks  more  were  spent 
in  reconnoitering.  At  leiigth  both  were  agreed  to  arrest 
David  (jrordon  and  wife,  with  their  four  children,  as  the 
Hamilton  family,  and  api)lied  for  a  warrant  to  take  the 
family  as  escaped  slaves.  The  United  States  Judge,  Hon. 
Ross  Wilkins,  who  issued  the  warrant,  informed  one  of 
the  most  active  undergro'nid  railroad  men,  George  Do 
Baptist,  of  this  claimant's  business.  He  immediately  tele- 
graphed to  a  vigorous  worker  iu  Ypsilanti,  who  sent  run- 
ners in  every  direction,  inquiring  for  a  Hamilton  family. 
None  could  be  found;  and  the  conclusion  was  reached  that 
thev  were  newcomers  and  were  closclv  concealed,  and  the 
only  safe  way  was  to  set  a  watch  at  the  depot  for  officers 
and  their  posse,  and  follow  whithersoever  they  went,  keep- 
ing in  sight.  This  was  done,  and  the  place  they  found 
aimed  for  was  David  Gordon's.  On  entering  the  house 
the  officer  placed  hand-cuirs  on  David  Gordon,  who  iu  sur- 
prise asked,  "What  does  this  mean?" 

Said  the  officer,  *'  I  understand  your  name  is  "Willis 
Hamilton,  once  a  slave  in  Tennessee." 

Gordon  replied,  "  No,  sir,  you  are  mistaken;  I  never 
was  in  that  State;  neither  is  my  name  Hamilton,  but  Gor- 
don, and  I  have  free  papers  from  Virginia." 

"  Where  are  your  ])apers?  If  they  are  good  they  shall 
save  you." 

Pointing  to  a  truidi,  "There  they  arc;  take  that  key 
and  you  '11  find  them." 

While  the  officer  was  getting  the  papers,  Chester  went 


A    RAFFI.ED   SLAVE-HOLDER. 


87 


to  the  bed  of  the  sick  Avif'e,  placed  a  six-shooter  at  her 
head,  and  swore  lie  'd  blow  her  l)niin.s  out  in  a  moment  if 
she  did  not  say  their  name  was  Hamilton.  "No,  sir,  our 
name  is  Gordon."  Their  little  girl,  standing  by,  cried  out 
with  fear.  He  turned  to  her,  with  pistol  j)()inting  toward 
her  face,  and  swore  he'd  kill  her  that  instant  if  she  did 
not  say  her  father's  name  was  Willis  Hamilton. 

At  this  juncture,  the  officer's  attention  was  arrested. 
*'  What  are  you  about,  you  villain?  You  '11  be  arrested  be- 
fore you  know  it,  if  you  are  not  careful.  Put  up  that 
l)istol  instantly,  and  if  these  papers  are  good,  I  shall  re- 
lease this  man,  and  return  the  warrant  unserved." 

He  examined  them  and  said,  "These  papers  I  find 
genuine."  He  then  removed  the  handcuffs  from  David 
Gordon,  and  with  the  discomfited  Thomas  K.  Chester  'ind 
Tennessee  companion  returned  to  the  depot  for  the  Detroit 
train. 

AVhile  on  their  Avay  they  met  a  colored  man  that  Chester 
swore  Avas  Willis  Hamilton.  Said  the  officer,  "You  know 
not  what  you  are  about;  I  shall  arrest  no  man  at  your 
command." 

On  returning  tlic  unserved  warrant  to  Judge  Wilkina, 

Chester  charged   him  with   being  allied  with   the  "d d 

abolitionist,  old  Laura  Haviland,  in  running  off  that  family 
to  ]Malden,  to  keep  me  out  of  my  property." 

"  I  knew  nothing  of  the  family,  or  of  your  business, 
until  you  came  into  this  office  yesterday,"  replied  the  judge. 

In  a  rage  and  with  an  oath,  he  rejilied,  "  I  know,  sir, 
your  com[)licity  in  keei)ing  slave-holders  out  of  their  i)rop- 
crty,  and  can  j)rove  it."  He  thre^  his  hat  on  the  floor 
and  gave  a  stamp,  as  if  to  strengthen  his  oath. 

The  judge  simply  ordered  him  out  of  his  office,  instead 
of  committnig  him  to  prison  for  contempt  of  court ;  and 
with  his  companion  lie  went  back  to  his  Tennessee  home, 
again  defeated. 

Thomas  K.  Chester  wrote  and  had  published  scurrilous 


i; 


■I 


■mm 


88 


A   W()MAN\S    IJFE-WORK. 


articles  in  Tciincs.sce,  and  in  a  number  of  other  Southern 
States.  Tlu'V  were  vi^'oruu.sly  circulated  until  the  following 
Congrcf^.s,  in  which  the  grave  charge  was  brouglit  against 
the  judge,  "of  being  allied  with  ]\[rs.  Haviland,  of  the  inte- 
rior of  the  State  of  Michigan,  a  rabid  abolitionist,  in  keei^ing 
slaveholders  out  of  their  slave  j)r()perty."  A  vigorous  eflbrt 
was  made  by  Southern  nionibers  to  impeach  him,  while 
liis  friends  were  petitioning  Congress  to  raise  his  salary. 
Judge  Wilkins  was  sent  fjr  to  answer  Jto  these  false  charges. 
Although  they  failed  to  impeach  him,  yet  on  account  of 
these  char<i;_s  the  addition  to  his  salary  was  lost. 

When  tiicsc  false  accusations  were  brought  into  Con- 
gress, and  the  judge  Avas  informed  of  the  necessity  of  his 
presence  to  answer  thereto,  he  inquired  of  Henry  Bibb 
and  others  where  I  w\as.  They  informed  him  that  I  was  ab- 
sent from  iiome.  On  my  return  from  Cincinnati  with  a  few 
underground  railroad  passengers,  I  learned  of  tlie  trouble 
Judge  AVilkins  met,  and  I  called  on  him.  He  told  me  of 
the  pile  of  Southern  papers  he  had  received,  with  scurri- 
lous articles,  designed  to  prejudice  Southern  members  of 
Congress  against  him.  Said  he,  "Although  they  failed  in 
the  impeachment,  they  said  they  would  come  against  me 
■with  double  force  next  Congress,  and  should  effect  their 
object."  Said  the  judge,  "  I  want  your  address,  for  if  they 
do  repeat  their  effort,  with  the  explanation  you  have  now 
given,  I  think  I  can  save  another  journey  to  Washington. 
The  judge  was  never  again  called  upon  to  defend  himself 
on  this  subject,  as  their  effort  was  not  re}^ated ;  neither 
did  their  oft-repeated  threat  to  imprison  me  disturb  us. 


DEATH  OF  THE  THESTICRS. 

In  the  third  year  of  the  Rebellion,  whiie  in  Memphis, 
Tennessee,  on  a  mission  to  tiie  perishing,  I  found  myself 
in  the  city  where  my  Tennessee  correspondents  lived  a  few 
years  previous  to  their  deaths.  From  a  minister  who  had 
long  been  a  resident  of  that  city,  and  had  also  lived  near 


DEATH   OF   THE   CIIESTEU8. 


89 


Joncsboro,  ■where  they  resided  during  the  correspondence, 
I  learned  the  following  facts :  A  few  years  prior  to  the 
Avar  John  1*.  Chester  removed  with  his  family  to  3Iein})liis, 
"where  he  became  a  patnjler.  llis  sou  Thomas  transacted 
business  as  a  lawyer.  I  was  shown  his  residence,  and  the 
ofHce  where  John  P.  Chester  was  shot  through  the  heart 
by  a  mulatto  man,  whose  free  papers  he  demanded,  dou1)t- 
ing  their  validity.  Said  the  man,  "  I  am  as  free  as  you  are  ; 
and  to  live  a  slave  I  never  shall."  He  theii  drew  a  six- 
shooter  from  its  hiding-place  and  shot  him  through  the  heart. 
He  fell,  exclaiming,  "O  Crod,  I 'ma  dead  man."  The  man 
threw  down  the  fatal  weapon,  saying  to  the  bystanders, 
"Here  I  am,  gentlemen,  shoot  me,  or  hang  me,  just  as  you 
please,  but  to  live  a  slave  to  any  man  I  never  shall."  He 
"was  taken  by  the  indignant  crowd,  and  hung  ou  the  limb  of 
a  tree  near  by,  pierced  with  many  bullets.  I  can  not  de- 
scribe the  feeling  tluit  crept  over  me,  as  I  gazed  upon  the 
pavement  where  John  1'.  Chester  met  his  fate,  and  which 
I  had  walked  over  in  going  to  officers'  head-quarters  from 
the  steamer.  Oh !  what  a  life,  to  close  with  such  a 
tragedy ! 

Thomas  K.  Chester  being  a  few  rods  distant  ran  to 
assist  his  dying  father,  but  his  life  was  gone  ere  ho  reached 
him.  A  few  months  later  he  was  brought  from  a  boat 
sick  "with  vellow  fever,  and  died  in  one  week  from  the 
attack  in  terrible  paroxysms  and  ravings,  frecpiently  recpiir- 
ing  six  men  to  hold  him  ou  his  bed.  He  was  ill  the  same 
length  of  time  that  they  falsely  represented  a  few  years 
before  in  the  Toledo  hotel.  Paid  the  narrator,  "Thomas 
K.  Cliester's  death  was  the  most  awful  I  ever  witnessed. 
He  cursed  and  swore  to  his  last  breath,  saying  he  saw  his 
father  standing  by  his  bed,  with  damned  spirits  waiting  to 
take  him  away  to  eternal  burnings." 

After  a  long  walk  one  day,  I  called  at  the  former  resi- 
dence of  the  Chester  family,  and  was  seated  in  the  front 
parlor.     It  is  hard  to  imagine  my  feelings  as  I  sat  in  the 


1 


1»   l.i 


11    ^M. 


H" ' 


\,^. 


90 


A  woman's  life-work. 


room  wliorc  tliose  two  men  had  lain  in  death's  cold  em- 
brace— men  who  had  flourished  toward  my  face  the  six- 
shooter.  It  was  by  this  kind  of  deadly  weapon  the  life  of 
one  was  taken ;  and  as  nearly  as  words  can  describe  the 
feigned  sickness,  the  last  week  of  the  life  of  the  other  was 
spent.  No  wonder  the  blood  seemed  to  curdle  in  my  veins  in 
contemplating  the  lives  of  tiicsc  men,  and  their  end.  It 
is  beyond  the  power  of  pen  to  dcscril)e  the  panorama  that 
passed  before  me  in  these  moments.  The  proj)rietor  of 
the  Toledo  hotel  lost  custom  by  his  complicity  in  their 
efforts  to  retake  their  alleged  slave  property.  A  few 
mouths  after  the  hotel  was  burned  to  ashes. 


A    lUKJUS  HCIIOOL-THACIIEU. 


Ill 


Chapter  IV. 

AN  OHIO  SCHOOL-TEACHER. 

In  tlic  Autumn  of  1847  a  gentlonuin  of  evident  culdiro 
oall(>(l  for  early  breakfast,  tliough  he  had  passed  a  i)ul)lic 
house  about  two  miles  distant.  I  mistrusted  my  stranger 
caller  to  be  a  counterfeit;  and  told  him,  as  I  had  the  care 
of  an  infant  for  a  sick  friend,  he  would  find  better  fore  at 
the  boarding  hall  a  few  rods  away.  But  introducing  him- 
self as  an  Ohio  school-teacher,  and  accustomed  to  boarding 
around,  he  had  not  enjoyed  his  favorite  bread  and  milk 
for  a  long  while,  and  if  I  would  ])e  so  kind  as  to  allow  him 
a  bowl  of  bread  and  milk  he  would  accept  it  as  a  favor. 
He  said  he  had  heard  of  our  excellent  school,  and  Avished 
to  visit  it.  He  was  also  acting  as  agent  of  the  National 
Era,  published  at  Cincinnati,  in  which  he  was  much  in- 
terested, and  solicited  my  subscriiition.  I  told  him  I  knew 
it  to  be  a  valuable  periodical,  but,  as  I  was  taking  three 
abolition  papers  he  must  excuse  me. 

He  was  also  very  much  interested  in  the  underground 
railroad  projects,  and  referred  to  names  of  agents  and  sta- 
tions, in  Indiana  and  Ohio,  in  a  way  that  I  conchaled  he 
had  been  on  the  trail  and  found  me,  as  well  as  others,  and 
perhajis  taken  the  assumed  agency  of  the  Em  for  a  cov- 
ering. He  said  it  was  found  necessary  in  some  places  in 
Oiiio  and  Indiana  to  change  tl-.e  routes,  as  slave-holders  had 
traced  and  followed  them  so  closely  that  they  had  made 
trouble  in  many  places,  and  suggested  a  change  in  ^lich- 
igau,  as  there  were  five  slave-holders  in  Toledo,  Ohio,  when 
he  came  through,  in  search  of  escaped  slaves.  I  replied 
that  it  might  be  a  good  idea,  but  I  had  not  considered  it 
sufRcicntly  (o  decide. 


Ill 


II 


H 


»'  1 


02 


A  woman's  life-work. 


Continuing  Ills  arguments,  he  referred  to  a  slave  wlio 
was  captured  1)y  Mr.  B.  Stevens,  of  Boone  County,  Ken- 
tucky. Ill-  !ru\v  liini  tied  on  a  h(jrse  standing  at  the  d(Jor 
of  an  inn  where  he  was  teaching.     In  surprise,  I  incpiired: 

"Did  that  coniiuunity  allow  that  to  be  done  in  their 
midst  without  making  au  effort  to  rescue  the  self-made 
freeman?" 

"  O  yes,  because  Stevens  came  with  witnesses  and  pa- 
pers, })roving  that  he  legally  owned  him ;  so  that  nothing 
could  be  done  to  hinder  him." 

"That  could  never  be  done  in  this  community;  and  I 
dou])t  whether  it  could  be  done  in  tliis  State." 

"  But  what  could  you  do  in  a  case  like  that?" 

"  Let  a  slave-holder  come  and  try  us,  as  they  did  six 
months  ago  in  their  effort  to  retake  the  Hamilton  family, 
who  arc  still  living  here  on  my  premises,  and  you  see  how 
they  succeeded  ;"  and  I  gave  him  their  plans  and  defeat. 
"  Let  them  or  any  other  slave-holders  disturb  an  escaped 
slave,  at  any  time  of  night  or  day,  and  the  sound  of  a  tin 
horn  would  be  heard,  with  a  dozen  more  answering  it  iu 
different  directions,  and  men  enough  would  gather  around 
the  trembling  fugitive  for  his  rescue.  For  women  can 
blow  horns,  and  men  can  run.  Bells  arc  used  iu  our  school 
and  neighborhood;  but  if  the  sound  of  a  tin  horn  is  heard 
it  is  understood,  a  few  miles  each  way  from  Riiisiu  Insti- 
tute, just  what  it  means." 

Looking  surprised,  he  answered:  "Well,  I  reckon  you 
do  understand  yourselves  here.  But  I  do  n't  see  how  you 
could  retain  one  krjalUj  if  papers  and  witnesses  were 
on  hand." 

"  Hon.  Ross  Wilkins,  United  States  judge,  residing  iu 
Detroit,  can  legally  require  any  fugitive  so  claimed  to  be 
brought  before  him,  and  not  allow  any  thing  to  be  done 
until  the  decision  is  reached.  And  there  are  many  active 
workers  to  assist  escaping  slaves  iu  that  city,  who  would 
rush   to  their  aid,  and  in  ten  minutes  see   them  safe  iu 


»iWft)#AHNai"»'»w»*Ww<«'»'^*"--v 


HUNTING  FOR  .TOIIN   WHITE. 


93 


Canada.  I  presume  if  the  slave  claimant  should  come 
with  a  score  of  witnesses  and  a  half-bushel  of  papers,  to 
prove  his  legal  right,  it  would  avail  him  nothing,  as  we 


cl 


higher  law  th 


,ho 


wicked  enactments  of  mei 
claim  the  misnomer  of  law  by  which  bodies  and  souls  of 
men,  women,  and  children  are  claimed  as  chattels." 

The  i)r()prietor  of  the  boarding  hall  desired  me  to  allow >j 
him  to  inR)rm  the  stranger  of  our  susi^cions,  and  invite 
him  to  leave.  But  I  declined,  as  I  had  reached  the  con- 
clusion that  my  visitor  was  from  Kentucky,  and  probably 
in  search  of  John  White,  whose  master  had  sworn  that  he 
would  scud  him  as  far  as  wind  and  water  would  carry  him 
if  he  ever  got  him  again.  Professor  Patchin  and  J.  F. 
Dolbearc  called  to  see  him,  and  conversed  with  him  about 
his  agency  for  the  Era,  etc. ;  and  brother  Patchin  invited 
him  to  attend  the  recitations  of  the  classes  in  Latin  and 
geometry.  The  second  was  accepted,  as  mathematics,  he 
said,  was  his  favorite  study. 

By  four  o'clock  P.  JNI,,  the  hour  of  his  leaving,  the  tide 
of  excitement  was  fast  rising,  and  one  of  the  students  offered 
to  go  and  inform  John  White  of  the  danger  we  suspected, 
and  advise  him  to  take  refuge  in  Canada  until  these  Keu- 
tuckians  should  leave  our  State. 

We  surmised  that  the  five  slave-holders  he  reported  in 
Toledo  were  his  own  company,  which  was  soon  found  to  be 
true.  One  of  my  horses  was  brought  into  requisition  at 
once  for  the  dispatch-bearer ;  but  he  had  not  been  on  his 
journey  an  hour  before  we  learned  that  our  Ohio  teacher 
iiKpiircd  of  a  boy  on  the  road  if  there  had  been  a  mulatto 
man  by  the  name  of  White  attending  school  at  Kaisin 
Institute  the  past  Winter. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Where  is  he  now  ?" 

"  He  hired  fur  the  season  to  Mr.  Watkins,  near  Brook- 
lyn, in  Jackson  County." 

This  report  brought  another  offer  to  become  dispatch- 


;*! 


•:i 


i-'ii 


m  ■ 


94 


A    WOMAN  .S    LIFH-WUUK. 


lu'juvr  to  tlio  liunted  num.  The  following  day  iomid  John 
WhiU'  in  (.'iin!i(hi. 

Two  days  after  George  W.  Bni/ior,  who  claimed  John 
AVhitc  as  iiis  property,  and  the  man  who  had  lost  the 
woman  and  five  children,  with  their  two  witnesses,  and 
their  lawyer,  J.  L.  Smith,  who  recently  made  me  an  all- 
day  visit,  entered  the  lowest  type  of  a  saloon  in  the  town 
near  hy,  and  inquired  for  two  of  the  most  besotted  and 
■wickedest  men  in  town.  Beinsi;  directed  aceordini'  to  their 
novel  inijuiry,  the  men  were  found  and  hired,  making  their 
nnmlxM'  seven,  to  capture  John  AVhite.  The  field  in  which 
he  had  been  at  work  was  surrounded  by  the  seven  men  at 
(>qual  distances.  But,  as  they  neared  the  supposed  object 
of  their  pursuit,  lo!  a  jwor  white  man  was  there  instea<l 
of  the  prize  they  were  so  sure  of  capturing.  They  repaired 
to  the  house  of  Mr.  Watkins,  and  in(]iiired  of  him  for  the 
■whereabouts  of  John  AVhite.     The  frank  reply  was: 

*'  I  suppose  he  is  in  Canada,  as  I  took  him,  with  bis 
trunk,  to  the  dejjot,  yesterday,  for  that  country." 

At  this  Brazier  poured  forth  a  volley  of  oaths  about 
me,  and  said  he  knew  I  had  been  there. 

"  Hold  on,  sir,  you  are  laboring  under  a  mistake.  We 
have  none  of  us  seen  her ;  and  I  want  you  to  understand 
that  there  are  others,  myself  included,  who  are  ready  to 
do  as  n\uch  to  save  a  self-freed  slave  from  being  taken 
l)ack  to  Southern  bondage  as  jNIrs.  Ilaviland.  Mr.  White 
is  highly  esteemed  wherever  he  is  known ;  and  we  would 
not  see  him  go  back  from  whence  he  came  without  making 
great  effort  to  prevent  it." 

At  this  Brazier  flew  into  a  rage,  and  furiously  swore  he 
would  yet  be  avenged  on  me  before  he  left  the  State." 

"  I  advise  you  to  be  more  sparing  of  your  threats.  We 
have  a  law  here  to  arrest  and  take  care  of  men  who  make 
such  threats  as  yon  have  here,"  said  Mr.  Watkins. 

With  this  quietus  they  left  for  Tccumseh,  four  milea 
distant  from  us. 


3/ 


HliUTISlI    TiniKATS. 


95 


While  nt  Rnoll'.s  Hotel  tli(>y  di-plnyod  on  tlio  biir-rnom  r) 
tivhlo    j)is((il.-i,    dirks,    und    l)(i\vit'-kni\H's,   und    pojiitiii;,'    to 
tlu'in,  saM  Brazier,  "Here  is  what  wo  use,  niid  we'll  have 

the  life  t)f  that  d d  abolitionist,  Mrs.  Ilavilaiid,  ))eron5 

wc  leave  this  State,  or  be  avenged  on  her  in  sonic  way.'' 
The  five  men  then  in  haste  jiinii>ed  aboard  the  stage  for 
Adrian.  As  the  anthorities  wcm'c  informed  of  these  threats, 
and  Judge  8tacy  was  going  to  Adrian  on  business,  lie  j)ro- 
posed  to  leave  with  a  friend  ho  was  to  pass  the  import  of 
these  threats,  fearing  they  might  quit  the  stage  whih;  pass- 
ing through  our  neighborhood,  and  under  cover  of  niglit 
commit  their  deeds  of  darkness,  I  received  the  note,  and 
told  the  bearer  I  accepted  this  as  the  outburst  of  passion 
over  their  defeat,  and  did  not  believe  they  desigiKnl  to 
carry  out  these  llircats,  and  rc(piested  the  excited  family  to 
keep  this  as  near  a  secret  as  possible,  during  a  day  or  two 
at  least,  to  save  my  children  and  the  school  this  exciting 
anxiety.  But  I  could  not  appear  altogether  stoical,  and 
consulted  judicious  friends,  who  advised  me  to  leave  my 
home  a  night  or  two  at  least.  This  was  the  saddest  mo- 
ment I  had  seen.  I  felt  that  I  could  not  conscientiously 
leave  my  home.  **If  slaveholders  wisii  to  call  on  me  they 
will  find  me  hero,  unless  I  have  business  away."  They  in- 
sisted that  I  should  keep  my  windows  closed  after  dark, 
and  they  would  send  four  young  men  students,  to  Avhom 
they  Avould  tell  the  secret,  with  the  charge  to  keo})  it 
unless  disturbance  sliouhl  require  them  to  reveal  it.  We 
received  information  the  following  day  that  the  five  Kcn- 
tuckiaus  took  the  cars  for  Toledo  on  their  arrival  at 
Adrian.  Their  threats  increased  the  excitement  already 
kindled,  and  neighbors  a(i vised  me  not  to  remain  in  my 
house  of  nights,  as  there  might  be  hired  emissaries  to  exe- 
cute their  Avill.  Some  even  advised  me  to  go  to  Canada 
for  safety.     But  rest  was  mine  in  Divine  Providence. 

The   following  week   I  accompanied   an   insane   friend 
with  her  brother  to  Toledo.     The  lirothcr  wished  me  to  go 


'  m'' 


m 


96 


A  woman's  life-work. 


to  ]M()nroc  on  business  for  tliciii.  He  soou  informed  me 
that  tlie  five  Keutuokians  were  in  the  same  hotel  with  us, 
and  he  overheard  one  say  that  I  had  no  doubt  followed 
them  to  sec  Avhcther  they  had  found  any  of  their  run- 
aways, and  that  one  of  their  party  was  going  wherever 
I  did  to  watch  my  movements.  This  friend  also  saw  them 
(!()nsulting  with  the  barkeeper,  who  sat  opposite  at  break- 
fast table,  and  introduced  the  defeated  stratagem  of  the 
Tennessee  slave-holders  at  the  Toledo  hotel  a  few  months 
l)revi()usly.  Said  he,  "I  believe  you  are  the  lady  who 
met  them  there.  Some  of  us  heard  of  it  socm  after,  and 
Ave  should  have  rushed  there  in  a  hurry  if  there  had  been 
an  attempt  to  take  a  fugitive  from  our  city.  They  might 
as  well  attempt  to  eat  through  an  iron  wall  as  to  get  one 
from  us.  I  am  an  abolitionist  of  the  Garrison  stamp,  and 
there  are  others  here  of  the  same  stripe."  And  in  tliis 
familiar  style  he  continued,  quite  to  my  annoyance,  at  the 
table.  lie  came  to  me  a  numl)or  of  times  after  breakfast 
to  find  what  he  couhl  do  to  assist  me  in  having  the  hack 
tiUvC  me  to  whatever  point  I  wislied  to  go. 

"Arc  you  going  cast,  madam?" 

"Not  to-day." 

"Or  arc  you  designing  to  go  south,  or  to  return  on  tlie 
Adrian  train?" 

"  I  shall  not  go  in  cither  direction  to-day." 

Leaving  me  a  few  moments,  he  returned  with  inquiring 
whether  I  was  going  to  Monroe,  and  giving  as  the  reason 
fen'  his  inquiries  tlio  wish  to  assist  me.  I  informed  him  I 
Avas  going  to  take  the  ten  o'clock  boat  for  Monroe.  I 
learned  in  the  sequel  that  they  charged  me  with  secreting 
the  woman  and  five  children,  and  aiding  their  flight  to 
Canada;  l)ut  of  them  I  knew  nothing,  until  my  Ohio 
tcaciier  informed  me  of  their  flight,  and  while  I  was  sus- 
])ected  and  watched  l>y  tlieir  pursuers,  we  had  reason  to 
believe  they  were  placed  on  a  boat  at  Cleveland,  and  were 
safe  in  Canada. 


A  VISIT  TO  jam:  white. 


i)7 


Wc  learned  that  tlieir  la\v}'er  made  inquiries  while  in 
my  uci<i;hburli()od  whclher  my  farm  and  luiisin  In?;titute 
were  entirely  in  my  hands.  Wlien  they  became  .satibllcd 
of  the  fact  they  left  orders  for  my  arrest  n})()n  a  United 
States  warrant,  to  be  served  the  following  Autumn,  if  they 
failed  to  recover  their  human  property.  About  the  expira- 
tion of  the  time  set  George  W.  Brazier  went  with  a  gang  of 
slaves  for  sale  to  Baton  Rouge,  Louisiana,  and  died  suddenly 
of  cholera.  There  his  projects  ended,  and  John  White 
soon  returned  to  his  work  in  Michigan. 

These  circumstances  delayed  my  prospect  of  going  to  Cin- 
cinnati and  Kising  Sun  to  learn  tiie  conditi(ni  of  his  family. 
But  as  money  had  been  raised  by  the  anxious  husband  and 
father  and  his  friends,  I  went  to  Cincinnati,  where  I  found 
my  friends,  Levi  CofTm  and  family.  The  vigilant  committee 
was  called  to  his  private  jiarlor,  to  consult  as  to  the  most 
])rudent  measure  to  adopt  in  securing  an  interview  with 
Jane  AVhite,  John's  wife,  whose;  master,  Benjamin  Stevens, 
was  her  father,  and  the  vain  hope  was  indulged  that  he 
would  not  make  an  eflbrt  to  retake  the  family  should  they 
make  a  start  for  freedom.  Tiic  committee  proposed  that  I 
should  go  to  Kising  Sun,  and,  through  Joseph  lOdgertoii 
and  Satnuel  Barkshire  and  families,  obtain  an  interview 
with  Jane  AVliite,  as  th(>v  were  intelHufent  and  well-to-do 
colored  friends  of  John  White's  in  Rising  Sini. 

Accordingly  I  went,  and   called   on   Joseph   Edgerton's 


eatinsr-house 


On 


maUui-j:  mv   erranc 


1    k 


nown. 


tl 


lero  Avas 


great  rejoicing  over  good  news  from  their  esteemed  friend 
Felix  White,  as  John  was  formerly  calk'd.  In  conf'rring 
Avith  these  friends  and  Samuel  liarkshire,  thev  thouLdit  tl.i; 
errand  conkl  be  taken  to  Jane,  tlirough  Stevens's  foreman 
ho  was  freipiently  allowed  to  cross  the 
for  his  master,  and  was  looked   f)r  tlie 


sk 


Sol 


slave,  ooiomon,  w 


river  on  Dusmess 


f  )llowing  Saturday.  But  as  we  were  disappointed,  Joseph's 
"Nvife,  Mary  Edgerton,  pro})osed  to  go  with  me  to  Benja- 
min Stevens's,  ostensibly  to  buy  plums.     As  there  was  jio 


ill 


'^ 


1; 


I. 


08 


A  woman's  ufe-worf-:. 


trace  of  African  blood  perceivable  iu  her,  aud  the  Stevens 
family,  Ixjth  white  and  colored,  had  seen  her  mother,  who 
■was  my  .size,  with  blue  eyes,  straight  brown  hair,  and  skin 
as  fair  as  mine,  there  was  no  (question  as  to  relationshij) 
wiien  ]Mary  introduced  me  to  Jane  and  her  sister  Nan  as 
Aunt  Smith  (my  maiden  name).  It  was  also  known  to 
the  Stevens  family  that  !Mary  was  ex})ecting  her  aunt  from 
Georgia  to  sjjcnd  a  few  weeks  with  her.  When  we  en- 
tered the  basement,  which  was  the  kitchen  of  the  Stevens 
house,  twelve  men  and  women  slaves  just  came  in  from  the 
•harvest-field  f)r  their  dinner,  which  consisted  of  "corn 
dodgers"  placed  in  piles  at  convenient  distances  on  the 
bare  table,  made;  of  two  long  rough  boards  on  crossed  legs. 
A  large  pitcher  filled  as  full  as  its  broken  top  would  allow 
of  sour  milk,  and  a  saucer  of  greens,  with  a  small  })iecG 
of  pork  cut  in  thin  slices,  were  divided  among  the  hands, 
who  Xsvrc  seated  on  the  edge  of  their  table,  except  a  few 
who  occupied  stools  and  broken  chairs.  Not  a  whole 
earthen  dish  or  ])late  was  on  that  table.  A  broken  knife 
or  fork  was  placed  by  each  plate,  and  they  used  each 
other's  knife  or  fork,  aud  ate  their  lunnble  rejiast  with  ap- 
parent zest.  I  have  given  this  harvest  dinner  in  detail,  as 
Benjamin  Stevens  was  called  a  remarkably  kind  master. 
It  Avas  fre(|uently  remarked  by  surrounding  planters  "  that 
the  Stevens  niti'irers  thoutiht  they  were  white," 

As  we  were  informed  they  had  no  plums  for  sale,  ]\[ary 
proposed  filling  our  "1)uckets"  with  blackberries,  as  there 
were  an  abundance  within  a  short  distance,  and  asked 
Jane  if  she  or  Nan  could  not  go  and  show  us  the  way. 
"I'll  go  an'  ask  Misus  Agnes,"  replied  Nan,  Avho  soon  re- 
turned with  the  word  that  Jane  might  go,  as  she  wanted 
to  make  another  l^itch  of  jam.  "But  she  says  we  nnist 
get  dinner  fi)r  ^Nlary  and  her  aunt  first."  A  small  table- 
cloth was  placed  over  one  end  of  the  table,  and  wheat 
bread,  butter,  lioney,  and  a  cream-i)itcher  of  sweet  milk 
was  brought  down  for  us.     Not  a  child  of  the  nine  little 


A     RFAT.LATION. 


99 


ones  playing  in  the  kitchen  askcil  for  a  taste  uf  anytliini^ 
(luring  ur  after  our  meal.  All  that  was  left  was  taken  u[) 
stalls,  and  we  were  invited  to  call  on  ]\Irs.  Agnes,  who  n;- 
ceivcd  ns  cordially.  She  was  teaching  Jane's  oldest  daugh- 
ter, of  seven  years,  to  sew.  After  a  few  minutes  chat  with 
the  mistress,  we  left  for  blackberries. 

When  out  of  feight,  I  told  Jane  I  was  the  one  who 
Avrote  a  letter  for  her  husband,  Felix  White,  to  her,  and 
directed  it  to  Samuel  Barkshire,  who  told  me  he  read  it  to 
her,  l)ut  did  not  dare  take  it  IVom  his  house,  but  took  the 
braid  of  his  hair  tied  with  blue  ribbon,  sent  in  the  letter. 
She  looked  at  mo  in  amazement  for  a  moment,  when  she 
burst  into  a  flood  of  tears.  As  soon  as  she  could  command 
lier  feelings  she  said  her  master  had  told  her  that  he  had 
heard  from  Felix,  and  that  he  was  married  again,  and  was 
riding  around  with  his  new  wife  mighty  happy.  When  I 
gave  lier  the  errand  from  her  husband  she  was  again  con- 
vulsed with  wee})ing.  Said  she,  "  I  would  gladly  Avork 
dav  and  ni^-ht,  until  mv  fmucrs  and  toes  are  without  a 
nail,  and  willingly  sec  my  children  work  in  the  same 
■\vay,  could  we  only  be  with  Felix."  Poor  heartbroken 
■woman,  she  sighed  like  a  sobbing  child.  But  two  of  her 
children  were  out  a  few  miles  with  one  of  the  Stevens  mar- 
ried children,  to  be  gone  two  months,  and  she  sent  a  re- 
quest to  her  husband  to  come  on  the  sly  to  assist  in  bring- 
ing their  children  away  after  the  return  of  the  absent  ones, 
so  that  all  might  go  together.  I  assisted  her  in  picking 
berries,  as  she  had  spent  so  much  of  her  time  in  talking 
and  wee])ing  her  mistress  might  conudain.  I  gave  her  a 
little  memento  froin  her  husband,  and  left  the  [Mjor  heart- 
stricken,  crushed  spirit. 

The  daughter  and  grandchildren  of  the  master  with- 
held them  from  going  to  their  natural  protector,  yet  he 
was  called  one  of  the  best  of  slave-holders.  Here  was  a 
woman  and  sister  whose  widowhood  was  more  desolate  than 
even  death  had   made  my  own.     And  her  poor  children 


iV 


«ii;  '• 


(It.'','; 

A. 


■'  W 


■M  '.    i 


■  I 


100 


A   woman's    lilFE-WOIlI-:. 


were  wovrc  ihaii  fiulicrlcss.  I  returned  to  my  liome  and 
iinxious  c'liildrcii  and  fuiends. 

But  the  grieved  husband  felt  confident  his  intimate 
friend  William  Allen,  who  would  have  left  for  freedom 
long  ago  but  for  his  wife  and  child,  would  assist  Jane  and 
the  children  could  he  know  from  him  how  many  warm 
friends  there  were  in  the  North  to  assif'-:  them.  His  friends, 
as  well  as  himself,  were  anxious  to  make  another  trial 
without  the  risk  of  his  going  into  the  lion's  den,  Cleans 
hoAn^  provided,  three  months  later  fnnid  mo  again  in  Ris- 
ing Bun.  After  a  little  Avaiting  to  see  William  Allen,  I 
took  a  boat  and  went  four  miles  below  on  the  Kentucky 
side,  and  called  at  the  house  of  his  master  to  wait  for  a 
boat  going  up  the  river  within  a  few  hours. 

As  they  were  having  a  great  excitement  over  counter- 
feiters, and  were  making  great  efforts  to  find  the  rogues, 
and  looking  upon  every  stranger  with  suspicion,  I  was  be- 
lieved by  my  host  to  bo  one  of  them  in  disguise.  AVithin 
an  hour  after  my  ai'rival  the  sherifT  and  a  deputy  were 
brought  into  an  adjoining  room.  The  lady  of  the  house 
appeared  excited.  Her  little  girl  inquired  who  those 
strange  gentlemen  were ;  she  replied  the  shcrifl'  and  his  dep- 
uty. I  looked  up  from  the  paper  I  wa>  busily  reading,  and 
entered  into  conversation  with  the  lady  of  the  house,  when 
I  overhead  one  man  say,  "I  don't  think  there  is  anything 
wrong  about  that  woman."  This  renmrk  led  me  to  sup- 
pose I  might  be  the  object  of  the  undertone  conversation 
among  the  gentlemen  in  the  adjoining  room.  Soon  after 
the  three  gentlemen  came  into  the  room,  with  whom  I 
passed  the  usual  "  good  afternoon."  One,  whom  I  took  to 
be  the  sheriff,  made  a  few  remarks  over  fine  weather,  etc., 
and  all  three  returned  to  their  room.  Said  one,  in  a  low 
voice,  *'I  tell  you  that  woman  is  all  right;  she's  no  coun- 
terfeiter." ]My  excited  hostess  became  calm,  and  fpiite 
social,  and  made  excuses  for  having  to  look  after  the  cook- 
ing of  her  turkey,  as  she  allowed  her  cook  to  spend  this 


INTKUVIKW    WITH     WIM.IAM    Al.LlOX. 


101 


Siil)l):ith  wiih  her  liii.slniiid  in  visiting  one  of  their  friends. 
"And  I  idway.s  burn  ;uul  blister  my  hands  ■whenever  I 
make  an  atteninl  at  cooivini;.  But  mv  cook  is  so  i'aithfiil 
I  thoiiglit  1  would  let  her  go  to-day." 

As  1  gave  up  tiie  idea  of  seeing  William  Allen,  I  was 
about  to  go  to  the  wharf-boat  and  wait  there  for  the  five- 
o'clock  boat.  But  she  urged  me  to  take  dinner  with  them, 
as  I  would  have  plenty  of  time.  After  dinner  they  di- 
rected me  across  a  pasture-field  that  would  shorten  the 
lialf-iuile.  Just  out  of  siaht  of  the  house  I  met  "William 
Allen,  with  his  wife  and  little  girl  of  ten  years.  As  they 
Avere  so  well  deseri])ed  by  John — or  Felix,  as  he  was  hero 
known — I  recognized  them,  and  gave  the  message  from 
their  friend,  from  whom  they  rejoiced  to  hear.  He  said 
he  longed  to  be  free,  and  thouglit  two  "weeks  from  that 
day  he  could  go  over  to  Samuel  Barkshire's  to  see  me. 
During  this  time  he  "would  deliver  the  messaLrc  to  Jane. 
At  })resent,  he  said,  it  would  be  very  difficult  crossing,  as 
there  was  great  excitement  over  men  that  })assed  a  lot  of 
counterfeit  money  in  that  neighborhood,  and  they  were 
watching  for  them.  I  told  him  it  was  not  safe  for  us  to 
talk  longer  there,  as  they  were  slaves,  and  I  was  not  free 
to  be  seen  talking  with  them,  and  gave  them  the  parting 
hand,  infi)rming  them  that  many  jn-ayers  of  Christian 
l)eople  of  the  North  were  daily  ascending  for  the  deliver- 
ance of  the  slave.  "]May  God  grant  the  answer!"  was  the 
heartfelt  rc})ly. 

During  the  two  Aveeks  Mary  Scott  was  introduced,  who 
had  recently  bought  herself,  with  her  free  husband's  aid. 
She  related  to  me  the  sad  condition  of  her  sister,  Kachel 
Beach,  who  was  the  slave  of  !Mr.  Bav,  the  l)rother  of 
Wright  Bay,  of  ^Madison,  Indiana,  the  noted  negro  catcher. 
She  was  the  kept  mistress  of  her  master,  who  held  her  and 
lier  five  children,  who  were  his  own  flesh  and  blood,  as  his 
projierty.  After  her  sister  Bachel's  religious  ex})erience, 
she  was  nuich  distressed  over  the  life  she  was  compelled  to 


u 


11 


II 


11 


'li 


'"^1 


■m 


;iii 


102 


A  wojian'h  lifk-work. 


if- 


leiid  \\h\\  her  master.  ►She  had  often  wepl  with  her  weep- 
ing sister.  When  she  tliouglit  of  escaping,  .she  could  not 
leave  her  five  little  children  to  her  own  sad  fate.  As  I 
was  informed  that  ]Mary  Scott  was  a  reliable  Christian 
woman,  I  gave  her  a  plan,  and  names  of  persons  and  places 
of  safety,  with  a  charge  not  to  stop  over  the  second  night — 
if  possible,  to  avoid  it — at  the  first  place  named  ;  for  it  was 
too  near  her  master's  brother,  Wright  Kay,  as  he  would 
make  great  efibrts  to  retake  them. 

This  plan  was  adopted.  But  they  were  kept  two  days 
at  Luther  J)onaId's  station,  which  brought  them  into  great 
difiiculty.  lie  was  so  well  known  as  the  slave's  friend  it 
was  unsafe  to  secrete  fugitives  on  his  own  i)remises;  and 
he  placed  them  in  an  out-house  of  one  of  his  friends.  On 
the  second  night  of  their  ilight,  when  they  were  to  l)e 
taken  to  the  next  station,  Wright  Kay  was  on  their  track, 
and  entered  the  neighborhood  at  dark  twilight,  tilling  it 
with  excitement  on  the  part  of  both  friends  and  foes.  The 
cry  of  a  child  brought  a  neighbor  to  their  hiding-i)lace, 
who  told  her  she  was  un.safe  ;  but  he  would  take  her  and 
the  children  to  his  barn,  where  they  would  be  perfectly 
secure.  Soon  after  her  new  friend  left  her  she  felt  in  great 
danger,  and  when  her  children  were  asleep  in  their  bed  of 
stalks  she  ventured  to  })lacc  herself  by  the  road-side. 
Here  she  heard  horses  coming,  and  listened  to  hear  the 
voice  of  their  riders,  to  sec  if  she  could  recognize  her  first 
i'riends,  as  they  had  told  her  they  were  going  to  take  them 
to  another  place  of  safety  that  night ;  but,  to  her  grief, 
she  heard  the  voice  of  Wright  Ray,  with  his  posse.  'Filled 
with  fear  of  capture,  she  groped  her  way  still  farther  back 
in  the  dark.  After  her  })ursuers  passed  she  heard  two  men 
coming,  in  low  conver.>^ation.  Hhe  prayed  for  direction, 
and  felt  im[)ressed,  as  she  said,  to  tell  thc.«!e  men  her 
trouble.  Tiiey  proved  to  be  her  friends,  who  missed  them  as 
they  went  to  take  their  suppers.     As  Ray  and  his  company 


ipany 


>\ 


ere  known  to  be  in  town,  tlu>y  knew  not  but  they  were 


IN  .st:spp]X.se. 


10;  J 


captured.  Tvimiicrs  were  sent  to  tlic  iiPiial  resortfj  of  slavc^- 
Iniiitcrs,  to  see  it'  auv  clew  could  be  learued  of  the  fate  oi' 
tlie  missing  family. 

"  O,  how  I  prayed  God  to  deliver  nic  in  this  my  great 
distress!"  she  said,  in  relating  her  flight  in  my  interview 
^vith  her  in  Canada.  She  led  her  two  friends  to  the  barn, 
from  whence  her  sleeping  children  were  removed  ;  but  by 
the  time  they  i-eached  the  road  they  saw  the  lantern,  and 
heard  rustling  of  stalks  by  her  pursuers.  As  her  new 
friend  was  a  well-known  friend  to  slavc-huntei-s,  she  and 
her  children  were  still  in  great  danger.  She  \vas  dressed 
in  men's  clothing,  and  her  girls  dressed  like  boys,  and  they 
Avere  taken  out  in  diflereiit  directions.  Eachel  and  the 
youngest  child  her  guide  took  to  a  Quid^er  neighborhood, 
■while  two  men  took  each  two  girls  on  their  horses  and  took 
different  roads  to  other  places  of  safety ;  but  no  two  of 
the  three  parties  knew  of  the  others'  destination.  Two 
(lays  of  distressing  anxiety  were  passed  befoi'^  a  word 
reached  the  mother  from  her  children.  Not  knowing  but 
they  were  back  to  their  old  Kentucky  home,  she  could 
neither  cat  nor  sleep  for  weeping  and  praying  over  the 
])r()bable  loss  of  her  childi-en.  But  her  joy  could  not  find 
exj)ression  when  two  of  them  were  brought  to  her.  At 
first  sight  of  her  darlings,  she  cried  out,  "Glory  to  God! 
he  has  sent  me  two  more.  But  where,  O,  where  are  the 
other  two?"  The  two  men  who  brought  these  in  their 
close  carriage  could  give  no  tidings,  as  they  had  heard 
nothing  from  them  since  leaving  Donald  Station.  Rachel 
continued  wee])ing  for  her  children  because  they  were  not. 
On  the  following  day  they  were  heard  from,  and  that  they 
would  be  brought  on  the  following  day,  P.  ]M. 

A  uund)cr  of  the  neighbt)rs  were  invited  to  witness  the 
meeting.  Among  them  was  a  strong  pro-slavery  man  and 
his  family,  who  had  often  said  the  aboliti(  nists  might  as 
well  come  to  his  barn  and  steal  his  horse  or  wheat  as  to  keep 
slave-htdders  out  of  their  slave  projierty;  yet  he  was  nat- 


1 


i 


ifiif  "I 


A'  ■:  * 


u' 


IT-"        !  J ! 


^\     I^ 


!i 


n 


.f 


101 


K'\ 


A    WOMAN  8    LIFK-WOIiK. 


11- 


iinilly  a  syniptitlictic  man.  Tlii.s  (Quaker  aholltioni.st  knew 
it  Avoiild  do  liim  good  to  Avilnt'.<s  the  anticipated  scene. 
The  knowlc'dj^e  of  tlie  prospective  arrival  of  the  children 
was  carefully  ke[)t  from  the  mother  nntil  she  saw  them 
coming  through  tiie  gate,  uhen  she  cried  aloud,  as  she  sank 
on  the  floor,  "(Jlory;  hallelujah  to  the  Land)!  You  sent 
me  all."  She  sobljed  a;,  she  clasped  them  to  her  bosom, 
contiiuiing,  in  an  ecstasy,  "Bless  the  Lord  forever!  He 
is  so  good  to  poor  me."  The  little  girls  threw  their  arms 
around  their  mother's  neck,  and  burst  into  a  loud  cry  for 
joy.  "  But  the  weeping  was  not  confined  to  them,"  said 
our  Quaker  sister,  who  was  present.  "  There  was  not  a 
dry  eye  in  that  house;  and  our  pro-slavely  neighbor  cried 
as  hard  as  any  of  us." 

After  the  excitement  died  away  a  little,  said  one, 
"  Now,  Ave  must  adopt  a  plan  to  take  this  family  on  to 
Canada." 

The  pro-slavery  man  was  the  first  to  say,  "I'll  take 
my  team,  and  take  them  where  they  '11  be  safe,  if  I  have 
to  take  them  all  the  way." 

Another  said,  "It  is  cold  weather,  and  we  see  these 
children  have  bare  feet;  and  we  must  see  about  getting 
them  stockings  and  shoes  and  warm  clothing." 

And  the  little  daughter  of  him  who  had  so  generonsly 
offered  his  services  in  aiding  this  family  beyond  the  reach 
of  danger  sat  down  on  the  carpet  and  commenced  taking 
off  hers,  saying,  "She  can  have  mine." 

"But,  Lotty,  what  will  you  do?"  said  the  mother, 

"  (),  j)apa  can  get  me  some  more." 

"  Yes,  papa  will  get  you  some  more,"  said  her  father, 
wl])ing  his  eyes;  "and  your  shoes  and  stockings  will  just 
fit  that  little  girl."  And  the  mother  could  hardly  keep 
her  from  leaving  them.  But  she  told  her  to  wear  them 
liome  and  put  others  on,  then  bring  them  back. 

Said  t)ur  informant,  "  I  will  warrant  that  man  will 
hereafter  become  a  stockholder." 


DEATH    OF    I'lKST-l'.OIlX. 


10; 


But  llio  ro'^c'iio  ot  the  Boiicli  family  cost  Lutlur  Donald 
his  farm.  lie  was  suod  and  found  guilty  of  harborinii; 
runaway  slaves  and  assisting  thcra  to  escapo.  But  not  ono 
sentence  of  truthful  cvideuco  was  brought  against  him  in 
court;  although  he  did  aid  the  Beach  family  when  a  stay 
of  three  minutes  longer  in  their  dangerous  hiding-place 
Avould  have  secured  their  return  to  a  life  of  degradation. 
Friends  of  the  fugitive  made  up  the  loss  in  part,  and  the 
God  of  the  oppressed  blessed  him  still  more  abundantly. 
lie  was  diligent  in  business,  serving  the  Lord. 

While  rejoicing  over  the  safe  arrival  of  the  Bcadi  , 
family  in  Canada,  heavy  tidings  reached  me  from  home.vy 
In  a  letter  I  was  informed  of  the  illness  of  my  eldest  son. 
Before  the  boat  arrived  that  was  to  bear  nu;  homeward  a 
second  letter  came  with  the  sad  intelligence  of  the  death 
of  my  firstdjorn.  Oh,  how  my  poor  lieart  was  wrung  with 
anxiety  to  learn  the  state  of  his  mind  as  he  left  the  shores 
of  time.  Why  did  not  the  writer  reli(!vc  me  by  giving 
the  inibrmation  I  most  needed?  And  yet  I  was  advised 
to  remain  until  the  weather  became  more  mild.  I  had  a 
severe  cough  that  foUowed  an  attack  of  pneumonia,  and 
physicians  had  advised  me  to  spend  the  Winter  in  a  mihlcr 
climate.  But  this  bereavement  seemed  im})elling  me  to 
return  to  my  afliicted  children.  But  more  than  all  other 
considerations  was  to  learn  the  state  of  that  dear  child's 
mind  as  he  was  about  leaving  the  land  of  the  dying  for 
the  spirit  world  of  the  living.  He  luul  been  a  living  Chris- 
tian, but  during  the  year  past  had  become  more  inactive, 
and  in  a  conversation  on  the  subject  a  few  days  previous 
to  my  leaving,  he  expressed  regrets  in  not  being  more 
faithful.  He  urged  me  to  take  this  trip,  yet  I  could  not 
but  regret  leaving  home.  "Oh  my  son,  my  son  Harvey, 
would  to  God  I  had  died  for  thee  !"  In  this  distress,  border- 
ing u})on  agony  of  soid,  I  walked  my  room  to  and  fro,  pray- 
ing for  an  evidence  of  his  condition.  In  the  conversation 
above  alluded  to  he  ex|)j'essed  a   sincere  desire  to  return. 


^k 


1 


lOG 


A    woman's    LII'K-WOllK. 


Mi 


Sjii<l  \\o,  "T  um  loo  Tnuch  like  the  imuli^nil,  too  far  away 
from  my  Savi(»r."  How  vividly  did  his  words  come  bofort^ 
inc.  Oh,  hdw  these  words  ran  tliroutrh  mv  mind  in  this 
hour  of  sore  trial  Is  tiiis  the  Isaae,  1  dwelt  upon  as  I  was 
leavini,'  my  home,  that  I  may  be  ealled  to  sacrifice?  I 
had  in  miml  my  s^n  Daniel,  who  was  fearful  I  Avould 
meet  trouble  from  slav(!-holdcrs,  as  he  remarked  to  his 
brother  Ilarvey,  "  ^Mother  is  a  stranger  to  fear,  though  she 
might  be  in  great  danger." 

"That  fact,  seems  to  me,  secures  her  safety,"  replied 
Ilarvey. 

As  I  overheard  this  conversation  I  shrank  from  the 
trial  of  leaving  my  home  ciix'le,  in  which  death  had  made 
Ruch  inroads,  and  for  the  time  being  doubted  whether  I 
was  called  upon  to  make  the  saeritice.  But  prayer  was 
now  constant  for  an  evidence  of  my  son's  condition,  whether 
])repare(l  for  exchange  of  worlds.  He  who  spake  peace  to 
the  troubled  sea  granted  the  answer  of  peace,  with  an 
assurance  that  my  ])rayer  was  answered,  and  that  in  his 
own  good  time  he  would  make  it  manifest. 

I  took  the  boat  for  Cincinnati,  and  on  the  morning 
after  my  arrival  at  the  home  of  my  valued  friends,  Levi 
CofHn  and  wife,  I  awoke  with  a  comforting  dream,  which 
l>ut  for  the  circumstances  I  would  not  record.  I  find  in  the 
written  Word  of  divine  truth  that  God,  at  sundry  times, 
made  himself  known  to  his  faithful  servants  in  dreams. 
And  he  is  the  same  in  all  ages,  in  answering  their  peti- 
tions and  meeting  their  wants.  In  the  dream  I  thought  I 
was  living  in  the  basement  of  a  beautiful  mansion.  Being 
rather  dark,  damp,  and  cool,  I  looked  for  some  means  of 
warming  my  apai'tments,  when  I  discovered  the  windows 
conveyed  beautiful  rays  of  sunlight  sufficient  to  dry  and 
warm  apartments  designed  for  only  a  temporary  residence, 
as  my  future  home  was  to  be  in  the  sjilendid  apartments 
above,  which  I  was  not  to  be  permitted  to  enter  until 
the  work  assigned  me  in  the  basement  Avas  done.     While 


A   COMFOJITING    WiKAM. 


107 


hufily  cn2:aiiril  in  s\V('('i)iii":  luv  room,  and  iirr:uiy:in'^  iiiv 
■work,  I  Piiw  luy  son  Ilarvcy  dcsccndini^  from  the,  U})[)i'r 
l)orlion  of  tliis  limilk'sri  mansion,  wliicdi  I  tlioii-^dit  was  now 
liis  liomc.  I  liastcncd  to  tho  door  to  mcot  liim.  As  tlio 
thou^dlt  struck  me  that  lie  had  hecn  a  slave,  I  cried  out, 
*']\rv  son  Ilarvev,  art  thou  free?" 

"Oh  yes,  motlier,  I  am  fn'c. ;  and  1  knew  your  anxiety, 
and  I  came  an  ])uri)ose  to  tell  you  that  I  went  to  my  ^fas- 
ter and  asked  if  he  would  ^n-ant  my  pard(»n?  And  he 
lookcd  u])ou  me  and  saw  jue  in  my  blood  as  I  plowed  iu 
the  Held,  and  he  said  I  should  be  i'ree  and  live." 

"Oh,  what  ii  relief  is  this  glad  news,"  I  replied. 

"I  knew  you  desired  me  to  go  for  my  freedom  long  ago, 
but  I  did  not  know  that  my  liberty  would  be  so  easily 
granted — just  for  asking.     I  am  now  free,  indeed." 

This  message  deliv(>red,  he  ascended  to  his  glorious 
home  above.  I  awoke  with  the  words  of  this  message  as 
clearly  imj)ressed  upon  my  mind  as  if  vocally  spoken.  1 
opened  the  Bible  at  the  head  of  my  bed,  and  the  first 
words  that  met  my  eye  wei-e  these :  "  I  saw  Ephraim  cast 
out  in  the  open  field ;  I  saw  him  in  his  blood,  and  I  said 
live ;  and  he  shall  live."  With  promises  given  by  him 
with  whom  there  is  no  variableness  or  shadow  of  turning, 
my  heart  was  tilled  with  praise  and  thanksgiving  for  the 
Comforter  who  grants  peace  such  as  tho  world  knows  not 
of  Vt^ry  so(m  a  letter  came  with  the  detailed  account  of 
the  last  hours  of  my  son  Harvey,  in  which  he  left  a  bright 
evidence  of  his  preparation  for  tlie  future  life.  He  sent 
for  Kev.  John  Patchiu,  of  Raisin  Institute,  of  whom  lie 
requested  prayer;  at  the  close  of  which  he  folhnved  in 
fervent  prayer  for  himself  and  loved  ones.  Then  brother 
ratchiu  inquired  if  perfect  peace  was  his  at  this  hour? 
"It  is,"  he  answered;  "I  am  ready  to  go,"  and  he  soon 
fell  asleep  in  Jesus. 

I  remained  a  few  weeks  longer ;  but  tho  close  search  for 
counterfeiters  made  it  difficult  for  William  Allen  to  cross. 


» ■ 

I. 


i', 


i.M-j>^'  ill 


i 


108 


v' 


A   WOMAN'S    Lri'K-WOUK. 


Tlic  roquost  ^V!ls  ropoatcd  by  John  Whito'H  wifo  for  liim  to 
t'oiiKi  for  (Ih'iii.  I  rotiinu'd  homo  with  the  coiisciousnoss 
of  hiiviu;'  doiio  all  that  I  could  in  dt'livcrint;  the  iiiessaws 
as  n>(jiu'sti;d.  The  hu.shand  and  father  could  not  fc(d  rc(M)ii- 
cilcd  to  <^lvo  U])  his  family  to  a  life  of  slavery,  and  went  f  »r 
them,  and  hrought  them  a  few  miles  on  tho  Indiana  side, 
above  llisin*'  Hun.  Thev  secreted  themselves  (hirinj;  tho 
day  hi  tho  woods,  and  with  tho  aid  of  his  friend  and  Solo- 
mon Stevens's  slave,  previously  alluded  to,  who  was  also 
attempting  to  cscap ;  with  tho  family,  ho  made  a  raft  ufxin 
which  they  were  al^out  to  cross  a  creek  to  reach  tho  team 
on  tho  opposite  side.  Suddenly  six  armed  men  })ounct'd 
upon  them,  and  captured  tho  family,  with  Solomon.  To 
save  John  from  tho  hazardous  attemi)t  to  defend  his  family, 
his  friend  held  him  back  in  the  thicket,  knowing  tho  effort 
must  fail.  As  ho  was  nt)t  allowed  to  move  ho  sank  back 
in  despair  in  tho  arms  of  his  friend.  Ho  had  risked  his 
own  life  and  liberty  in  his  attempt  to  rescue  them.  IIo 
learned  that  Cfcorgo  W.  Bra/ier  swore  ho  would  chop  him 
into  inches  if  he  ever  got  possession  of  him  again.  After 
his  unsuccessful  effort  in  IMichigan  ho  ofl'ered  six  hundred 
dollars  for  his  head,  dead  or  alive.  Benjamin  Stevens  also 
offered  six  hundred  dollars  reward  for  his  daughter  and  his 
five  grandchildren,  with  Soh)mon.  Ho  afterwards  sold 
them  all  for  tho  very  low  price  of  one  thousand  dollars, 
with  the  jiroviso  that  they  Averc  not  to  be  sold  apart. 

But  poor  Jane  was  not  left  long  to  grieve  over  her  dis- 
appointed lu)pes.  She  died  of  cholera.  AVe  lieard  she 
went  rejoicing  in  that  hope  that  reaches  beyond  the  vale. 
They  were  taken  to  Lexington,  Kentucky,  but  the  grieved 
luisl)and  and  father  again  made  his  way  northward.  Ho 
was  two  weeks  in  reaching  a  settlement  diat  was  said  to  bo 
friendly  to  fugitive  slaves.  Forty  miles  distant  from  his  old 
Kentucky  home  he  assumed  tho  name  of  James  Armstrong. 
Tho  family  upon  whom  he  ventured  to  call  appeared  very 
kind,  and  tho  man  told  him  he  would  take  him  tho  next  day 


m 


JOHN'    WHITE   A    PRIHON'RR. 


109 


to  a  Quaker  sottlomont,  but  ho  susj^cctcd  he  was  reported  to 
Wright  Hay  and  jxtssc,  who  oanio  into  the  house  and  hound 
him.  Placing  him  on  one  of  their  horses,  they  took  him 
through  flehls  and  haek  roads  until  they  crossed  the  Oliio 
river,  and  lodged  him  in  the  Woodl'ord  jail,  a  short  dis- 
tance from  the  river,  nearly  opposite  ^Fadison,  Indiana. 
Wrigiit  Ray  had  no  idea  of  having  in  his  j)ossession  J(  hii 
White,  who  had  so  recently  eluded  his  grasp  in  his  unsuc- 
cessful trip  with  Brazier  in  Michigan,  lie  found  among 
his  j)apers  in  which  were  advertisements  of  escaped  slaves, 
Henry  Armstrong  advertised  as  belonging  to  the  widow 
Armstrong,  of  Maysville,  Kentucky.  With  her  Wright 
Ray  had  an  interview,  hoping  to  arrange  for  the  reward, 
Avhich  she  refused  to  give,  for  he  had  been  away  so  long, 
he  would  be  of  little  use,  as  Henry  was  willed  fne  at 
her  death.  But  she  told  him  if  he  could  get  enough  from 
liim  to  pay  him  for  his  trouble,  he  might  do  so.  Conse- 
quently he  made  him  an  offer  to  ndease  him  for  four  hun- 
dred dollars,  and  encouraged  him  to  write  to  his  friends 
in  .Michigan  to  aid  him  to  that  amount.  He  wrote  to  a 
son-in-law  of  ]\Ir.  Watkins,  so  as  not  to  mention  a  name 
of  persons  the  men  had  to  do  with  in  Michigan,  and  the 
letter  was  brought  to  us.  We  all  understood  the  writer 
to  be  our  friend  John  White. 

A  few  friends  were  consulted  as  to  the  measures  to  be 
adopted.  It  was  proposed  that  I  should  go  to  Cincinnati, 
and  there  make  such  arrangements  as  the  friends  might 
think  pro[)er.  As  they  proposed  to  bear  my  ex])enses,  I 
said,  "  If  you  send  me,  I  shall  go  to-morrow  morning." 

"But,"  replied  the  bearer  of  the  letter,  "as  it  is  the 
Sabbath,  I  su])pose  I  should  hesitate." 

"It  Avas  lawful  on  the  Sabbath  to  lift  a  sheep  out  of 
the  ditch  in  the  days  of  Moses,  and  is  not  a  man  better 
than  a  sheep?" 

"  I  can  not  answer  you.  All  I  have  to  say  is,  follow 
the  dictates  of  your  owu  conscience." 


I 


110 


A  woman's  life-work. 


I'T' 


V 


:    1 

ii 

"ii 

M" 

'.    I '  i 

r 

1  ■ 

'!^ 


» ■iV' 


I  took  tlie  stage  at  Toledo,  and  in  tliroc  days  I  was 
consulting  the  vigilance  coniniittoe  in  Levi  Coffin's  council 
chamber.  As  it  would  not  do  for  nie  to  transact  business 
Avitii  Wright  Kay,  Micajali  White,  nephew  of  Catherine 
CofKn,  offered  to  go  as  soon  as  the  money  was  obtained. 
Levi  Coffin  introduced  me  to  Dr.  Judkins,  of  whom  I 
hired  the  money,  but  hoped  to  lessen  the  amount  if  pos- 
sible, in  the  arrangement  with  Wright  Ray.  I  urged  on 
the  nephew  the  necessity  of  taking  the  first  boat  for  ]Mad- 
ison,  as  every  hour  endangered  the  safety  of  John  AVhite. 
Whatever  was  done  for  him  must  be  done  quickly. 
AVright  Ray  was  found  very  willing  to  accept  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars,  which  Avas  placed  in  the  hands  of 
the  clerk  of  the  boat  until  his  prisoner  was  delivered  to 
his  friends  in  Cincinnati,  when  IMicajah  White  agreed  to 
sec  the  money  paid  to  Wright  Ray.  This  was  done,  and 
within  three  weeks  from  the  time  I  left  home  I  returned 
with  John  White.  The  day  after  John's  release  Brazier 
appeared  at  the  jail,  having  heard  that  he  was  there. 
But  he  was  too  late. 

A  few  months  after  John  White's  release  from  AVood- 
ford  jail  George  W.  Brazier  went  to  Baton  Rouge,  Louis- 
iana, with  a  gang  of  slaves  for  sale,  and  suddenly  died  of 
cholera,  just  before  the  time  fixed  for  his  return.  It  was 
said  he  intended  to  make  a  second  effort  to  ca})ture  John 
White,  or  to  arrest  me  with  United  States  warrant.  Time 
rolled  on,  and  John  F.  White  married  a  young  woman  in 
Canada,  his  home  a  number  of  years.  After  the  late  Avar 
he  removed  to  Ann  Arbor,  ^lichigan,  to  educate  his  chil- 
dren. When  we  last  heard  of  his  first  children,  his  oldest 
daughter  was  married  to  Solomon,  the  ex-slave  of  BiMija- 
min  Stevens.  We  rejoice  that  brighter  days  are  dawning. 
Ethiopia  is  stretching  out  her  hands  to  God. 


NINE  ESCAPED  SLAVES. 


Chapter  V. 


r  THE  UNDERGROUND  RAILWAY. 

As  my  married  children  liad  charge  of  the  farm,  aiul!/ 
the  younger  ones  were  in  school,  and  well  provided  for, 
I  spent  a  few  months  in  mission  work  and  nursing  the 
sick.  My  dear  friends,  Levi  and  Catherine  Coffin,  had 
given  me  a  very  cordial  invitation  to  make  their  house  my 
home  whenever  I  was  in  Cinciiniati.  Soou  after  my  ar- 
rival, at  early  dawn,  nine  slaves  crossed  the  river,  and 
were  ccmducted  to  one  of  our  friends  on  Walnut  Hills  for 
safety,  until  arrangements- could  be  made  to  f)rward  tlu>m 
to  Victoria's  domain.  I  called  on  them  to  see  what  was 
needed  for  their  Northern  march,  and  found  them  fdled 
with  fear  lest  they  should  be  overtaken.  As  there  was  a 
prospect  before  them  of  being  taken  down  the  river,  they 
concluded  to  *'  paddle  their  own  canoe."  They  had  with 
them  their  five  little  f  )lks,  that  seemed  as  full  of  fear  as 
were  their  trend)ling  parents.  A  little  girl  of  five  years  raised 
the  windf)W-sha(le  to  look  out.  When  her  mother  discov- 
ered her  she  exclaimed,  in  a  half-smothered  voice,  "Why, 
Em!  vou 'iriiavc  us  all  kotched,  if  vou  don't  mind;"  and 
the  little  thing  dropped  behind  a  ciiair  like  a  frightened 
young  partridge  hiding  under  a  leaf  at  the  mother's  alarm 
of  danger.  While  making  our  plans,  we  were  greatly  re- 
lieved to  find  that  the  well-known  Quaker  conductor,  Will- 
iam Beard,  was  in  the  city,  with  a  load  of  produce  from 
his  farm.  This  covered  nuirket-wagon  was  a  safe  car,  that 
had  borne  many  hundreds  to  his  own  depot,  and  was  now 
ready  for  more  valuable  freight  before  the  city  should  be 
filled  with  slave-hunters.     But  few  weeks  elapsed  before 


j'    1,  ';     " 


112 


«.-' 


A    WOMAN'S   LIFE-WOKK. 


M 


fi 


■WO  learued  of  the  safe  arrival  of  these  two  famihes  that 
wc  fitted  for  their  journey  to  Caiuuhi. 

One  of  our  vigihmee  committee  came  early  one  morn- 
ing to  inform  us  that  there  were  two  young  men  just  ar- 
rived, who  were  secreted  in  the  basement  of  Zion  B:iptist 
Church  (colored).  As  their  home  was  only  t\>cnty-fivc 
miles  from  the  river,  it  was  necessary  to  make  all  possible 
speed  in  removing  them  before  Kentucky  slave- hunters 
should  block  our  track.  I  took  their  measures,  to  procure 
for  each  a  Summer  suit,  and  went  to  our  store  of  new  and 
second-hand  clotliing,  at  Levi  Coffin's,  Avhere  anti-slavery 
women  met  tri-monthly,  to  spend  a  day  in  making  and  re- 
pairing clothing  for  fugitive  slaves.  In  early  evening  I 
took  a  large  market-basket,  with  a  suit  for  each,  and  had 
them  conducted  to  a  safer  hiding-j)lace,  until  a  Avay  opened 
for  them  to  go  to  a  Friends'  settlement,  about  eighty  miles 
distant,  where  George  chose  to  remain  and  work  a  few 
months.  But  James  would  not  risk  his  liberty  by  tarrying, 
and  censured  George  for  running  such  a  risk.  "  You 
need  n't  think  your  new  name  's  gwine  to  save  you  when 
ole  nuissa  comes." 

But  little  did  James  understand  the  deep-hidden  reason 
that  kept  his  friend  George  behind.  He  worked  faithfully 
nearly  a  year,  kept  the  suit  I  gave  him  for  his  vSunday 
suit,  and  used  his  old  Kentucky  suit  for  his  work,  patching 
them  himself,  until  patch  upon  })atch  nearly  covered  the 
old  brown  jeans  of  his  plantation  wear.  When  warm 
weather  again  returned,  without  revealing  his  design  of 
going  back  to  his  master  in  Kentucky,  for  he  knew  his 
abolition  friends  would  discourage  his  project,  lie  took  the 
eighty  dollars  he  had  earned  since  he  left  his  master,  and 
wore  the  suit  of  clothes  he  brought  away,  and  in  the  dark- 
ness of  night  went  to  his  wife's  cabin.  Here  he  gave  a 
full  history  of  the  kind  friends  who  had  paid  good  wages 
for  his  work,  and  said  he  was  going  to  take  all  to  his 
master,  and  tell  him  he  was  sick  of  freedom;  "and  you 


TOM    RETURNS   TO  SLAVERY. 


113 


imis'  be  mighty  inad,"  he  went  on,  "  Viiso  I  oome  l)iu'k  ; 
and  say,  '  W  he's  a  mind  to  make  sich  a  fool  of  his  Folf, 
as  to  be  so  jiibus,  'case  I  talked  Icetle  Avhile  wid  Jake,  long 
time  ago,  as  to  run  off  an'  leave  me,  he  may  go.  He 
needn't  think  I'll  take  'im  back;  I  won't  have  nothin'  to 
say  to  'im,  never!'  An'  I'll  quarrel  'bout  you  too;  an' 
when  all  ov  'em  is  done  fussin'  'bout  me  eomin'  back,  I  'II 
steal  to  you  in  a  dark  night,  an'  lay  a  plan  to  meet  on 
Lickin'  River;  an'  we'll  take  a  skiff  an'  mufHe  oars  till 
we  get  to  the  Ohio;  an'  I  knows  jus'  whar  to  go  in  any 
dark  night,  an'  we  '11  be  free  together.  I  did  n't  tell  Jim 
I 's  gwine  to  make  massa  b'levc  all  my  lies  to  get  you;  for 
I  tell  you,  Liz,  I  ain't  got  Avliole  freedom  without  you." 

Before  eight  o'clock  A.  !M.  George  stood  before  his 
master,  with  his  old  name  and  old  j)lantation  suit,  present- 
ing him  with  the  eighty  dollars  he  had  earned  for  his 
master  since  he  had  left  his  home,  that  he  never  wanted  to 
leave  again.  For  he  had  found  "abolitioners  the  greates' 
rascals  I  ever  seen.  I  wants  no  more  ov'  em.  They 
tried  hard  to  git  me  to  Canada;  but  I  got  all  I  wants 
of  Canada.  An'  I  tell  you,  ^lassa  Carpenter,  all  I  wants 
is  (me  good  stiddy  home.  I  don't  want  this  money;  it's 
yourn." 

His  master  was  well  pleased,  and  told  all  his  neighbors 
how  ha})py  his  Tom  was  to  get  back  again,  and  gave  all 
the  money  he  had  earned  since  he  had  been  gone.  It  was 
a  long  time  before  neiiihborini;  i)lanters  had  the  confidence 
in  Tom  that  his  master  had,  and  they  told  him  that  Tom 
should  never  step  his  foot  on  llieir  plantations;  but  he  told 
them  all  that  he  had  perfect  confidence  in  Tom's  honesty. 
**  lie  came  back  perfectly  disgusted  with  al^olltionists ;  he 
said  they  will  work  a  fellow  half  to  death  for  low  wages. 
And  he  even  patched  his  old  suit,  himself,  that  he  wore  off. 
And  I  have  found  the  reason  why  he  left.  IL^  and  Jaa 
had  a  quarrel,  and  now  he  don't  care  a  fig  i\Un\t  her; 
anil   I  heard   yesterday  that   her  master  says  he  '11  shoot 

10 


'  m 


'vh 


lU 


A  woman's  life-wohk. 


<  i 


■  » 


|1       ! 


him  if  lie  (lares  to  come  on  his  j)liintatioii.  But  he  needn't 
worthy;  for  you  could  n't  hire  Tom  to  go  neiir  Liz." 

Tom's  muster  told  him  all  the  plantens  were  afraid  of 
liim,  antl  said  he  would  })]ay  a  trick  on  him  yet. 

"I'll  stay  at  home,  then,  and  •won't  even  go  out  to 
nieetin's,  till  all  ov  'em  will  see  I  means  what  I  says." 

"That's  right,  Tom;  they  don't  know  you  like  I  do. 
But  I  told  them  'twould  do  all  the  niggers  good  just  lo 
h(>ar  your  story  ahout  the  meanness  of  aholitionists.  You 
know,  Tom,  that  was  just  what  I  told  you,  that  they  pre- 
tended to  he  your  friends,  but  they  were  your  worst 
enemies." 

"Yes,  massa,  I  al'us  hleved  you;  and  if  Liz  hadn't 
cut  up  the  way  she  did  I  never 'd  tried  'em." 

All  things  went  on  smoothly  with  Tom.  He  was  never 
more  trusty,  diligent,  and  faithful  in  all  that  i)ertaine(l  to 
his  master's  interest.  Three  mcmths  still  found  him  con- 
tented and  happy,  and  the  constant  praise  he  received  from 
his  master  to  his  neighbors  began  to  ins])ire  them  with 
sufficient  confidence  to  permit  him  to  attend  their  meetings 
occasionally,  though  lie  did  not  appear  anxious  to  enjoy 
that  privilege  until  his  master  proposed  his  going,  and  then 
he  was  careful  to  attend  only  <lay  meetings.  Neighboring 
white  people  often  talked  with  him  about  his  Northern 
trip,  and  all  got  the  story  he  had  told  his  master,  until 
Tom  became  quite  a  pet  missionary,  as  his  reports  went 
far  and  near,  among  both  whites  and  blacks.  After  Liz- 
zie's master  became  quite  satisfied  with  her  hatred  toward 
Tom,  he  allowpd  the  hound,  which  he  kept  over  two 
months  to  watch  for  Tom,  to  go  back  to  the  keeper. 
Though  Tom  and  Lizzie  lived  eight  miles  ai)art,  they  had 
a  secret  dispatch-bearer,  by  whom  they  reported  to  each 
other ;  Init  visits  were  very  few  and  ftir  between. 

One  day,  in  her  "clarin-up  time,"  Lizzie  came  across  a 
bundle  containing  a  Sunday  suit,  placed  in  her  cabin  when 
Tom  left  for  the  North,  which  she  took  occasion  \o  Jiave  a 


OEOKfiE    AND    MAIIV    ESCAPK. 


115 


good  quarrel  over.  Taking  tlicm  into  her  mistress,  tlic  mas- 
ter being  present,  she  said,  "Missus,  •  hat '11  I  do  \\\d  deso 
olc  close  Tom  let',  when  he  get  mad  an'  run'd  oft'  to  spite  me  ; 
now  I'll  burn  'em  up  or  giv'  'em  to  dc  pigs  for  ues',  I  aint 
gwinc  to  hav'  'cm  in  my  way  aiiy  longer." 

"Oh,  don't  burn  'cm  up,  can't  you  send  'im  word  to 
come  and  get  'em?" 

"I  sends  'im  no  word,  if  he  never  gets  'em;  I'd  heap 
better  giv'  'em  to  de  hogs." 

Tuiuing  to  another  house  servant,  her  mistress  said, 
"  Dil,  you  tell  Page's  Jim  when  he  goes  to  that  l)ig  meet- 
ing your  people  are  going  to  have  next  week,  to  tvll  Tom 
to  come  an<l  take  his  truck  away,  or  Liz  will  pitch  'cm 
in  the  fire  for  'im." 

But  there  was  no  hurry  manifest,  after  ho  got  the 
■word.  Tom's  master  told  him  he  had  better  go  and  get 
his  clothes  or  Liz  might  destroy  tliem.  >Said  our  George, 
"One  Saturdav  evenin'  I  went  to  liave  mv  las'  (luarrel 
with  Lizzie.  T  cabeil  her  bad  names,  an*  she  ilung  back  mean 
names,  an'  twitted  mo  with  runiiiu'  awav  to  make  her  frel 
bad,  when  she  didn't  care  a  picayune  ihr  nu- ;  an'  I  tolo 
her  I  never  wanted  to  see  her  face  airin,  an'  we  almos'  cum 
to  blows." 

A  few  months  after  this  tliere  was  a  holiday,  and  Tom 
was  so  faithful,  his  master  gave  him  permission  to  visit 
his  aunt,  six  miles  distant  in  an  opfjosite  direction  from 
Ijizzie's  home,  and  she  too  got  permission  to  visit  her 
friends  five  miles  away,  but  not  toward's  Tom's  master. 
The  plan  laid  in  his  midnight  visit  wa^"  to  start  after  sun- 
down, and  go  until  dark  in  the  direction  of  the  place  each 
had  tlieir  permission  to  go,  and  tiien  go  f  )r  Licking  IJivcr; 
and  she  was  to  go  up  the  river,  while  he  was  to  go  down, 
until  they  met.  lie  was  to  secure  the  first  skiff  witli  oars 
lie  could  find  to  aid  them  down  the  river  with  all  possible 
speed  to  the  Ohio.  They  succeeded  in  inid<ing  good  lime 
after  they  met,  until  day  dawn  overtook  ihcm,  when  they 


'  «' 


,  Tl    i     *     \ 


;, .  •,, 


116 


A  woman's  life-work. 


i  ! 


o 


bid  the  f^kifT  undor  a  clmnp  of  bushes,  and  tbc  oars  they 
took  llie  [)r('i'!iutioii  to  liide  some  distance  away  in  case  the 
skifl  was  discovered  and  taken  away.  Tbey  secreted  tlieni- 
selves  still  further  in  the  woods,  l)ut  not  so  iiir  but  they 
could  watch  their  tiny  craft  through  the  thicket.  Much 
to  their  discomfiture  a  nundK'r  of  boys  found  their  skiff, 
and  had  a  long  hunt  for  the  oars,  but  not  succeeding,  fur- 
nislied  themselves  with  p(»les  and  pushed  out  of  sight  to 
the  great  relief  of  the  temporary  owners,  so  near  being  dis- 
covered during  the  hunt  f)r  the  oars.  At  ten  o'clock, 
Avhcn  all  was  still,  they  crept  out  of  tlieir  hiding-place,  took 
their  oars,  and  hunted  two  lioiu's  before  they  found  another 
skiff.  Though  smaller  and  liarder  to  manage  than  the  one 
they  lost,  yet  they  reached  the  Ohio  just  at  sunrise.  Two 
men  on  the  o[)[)osite  side  of  Licking  lliver  hallooed,  "  AVhero 
are  you  going?" 

"  To  market,  sir.'' 

"  Wbat  have  you  got?" 

"Jiutter  an'  eggs,  sir." 

As  he  saw  them  in  the  skiff  and  pushing  toward  them, 
he  expected  every  moment  to  be  overhauled,  but  he  j)ulled 
"with  all  his  might  for  the  o])positc  shore,  and  did  not  dare 
look  back  until  they  had  reachetl  the  mi<ldle  of  the  river, 
Avhen,  to  their  great  relief,  the  two  men  had  given  up  the 
chase  and  turned  b.^.ek,  and  had  almost  reached  the  place 
of  their  starlinir.  He  said  Lizzie  trend)led  so  hard  that 
the  coat  ov(>r  her  shook,  so  great  was  her  fear.  Said  Liz- 
zie, "  I  reckon  the  owner  of  the  coat  shook  as  hard  as  I 
did  Avhen  you  was  pullin'  for  life.  I  specs  you  sent  fear 
clare  down  into  them  paddles  you's  sweattin'  over;"  and 
thev  l.ad  a  '/ocil  laugh  over  fright  and  success. 

Wit]  '  >(;  .  *hc"e  "was  no  fear  after  entering  the  base- 
ment .  / '.v^  .U  /list  ('huroh,  his  old  hiding-place.  As 
soon  as  i!.(  *•<■;,  .-n  nMie  to  us  that  a  man  antl  his  wife  had 
just  arrivid,  1  caiica  to  learn  their  condition  and  m^eds, 
uud  asked  the  woman  who  had  charijc  of  the  basement  to 


LEAVE    WITH    SEVEN    KICJITIVES. 


117 


tell  thorn  a  friend  wouM  call  to  sec  them,  as  now-oomcrs 
were  always  80  timid.  A  voice  I'rom  the  adjoining  room 
was  heard  to  say,  "Come  right  in,  Mrs.  Ilaviland,  we  are 
not  afraid  of  you  ;"  and  as  tiie  fugitive  clas])ed  my  hatid 
in  both  of  his,  I  exclaimed,  "Where  have  you  scon  me?" 

"Don't  you  mind  Jim  and  (leorge  you  glv'  a  basket 
full  of  close  to  las'  Summer?  You  giv'  me  the  linen  pants 
an'  blue  checked  gingham  coat  and  straw  hat,  an'  you  giv 
Jim  thin  pants  and  coat  and  palmdeaf  hat;  and  don't 
you  mind  we  went  out  in  a  market-wagon  to  a  (Quaker 
settlement?" 

"Yes,  but  how  came  you  here  again?" 

"It  was  for  this  little  woman  I  went  back."  Tiien  he 
"went  over  his  managing  process,  as  above  related. 

As  I  was  soon  to  go  to  my  home  in  Micln'gan,  it 
Avas  pro{)osed  by  our  vigilance  committee  thjit  this  coui»I(>, 
with  Sarah,  Avho  made  her  escape  over  a  year  previously, 
should  go  with  me.  Sarah  was  to  be  sold  away  from 
her  little  boy  of  tl.-ec  years  for  a  fancy  girl,  as  she 
Avas  a  beautiful  octoroon  and  attractive  in  person.  She 
knew  full  Avell  the  fate  that  awaited  her,  and  succeeded 
in  escaping.  She  was  an  excellent  house  servant,  and 
highly  respected  by  all  'who  made  her  acijuaintance  for  her 
sterling  Christian  cliaracter  and  general  intelligence.  She 
had  lived  in  a  quiet  Christian  family,  who  gave  her  good 
wages,  but  she  did  not  dare  to  risk  her  liberty  within  one 
hundre<l  miles  of  her  former  home. 

A  few  days  after  the  arrival  of  CJeorgc  and  wife  a 
mulatto  woman  and  her  daughter  of  sixteen,  bound  South 
from  Virginia,  h^ft  a  steamer  and  joined  our  conipany.. 
While  waiting  for  a  certain  canal-boat,  the  owner  and  cap- 
tain being  friendly  to  our  work,  another  young  man  joined 
us.  These  we  received  at  different  points  to  avoid  sus- 
picion. Before  we  reached  the  third  bridge  we  wore  over- 
taken by  Levi  Cofhn  with  another  young  man,  whom  lu; 
had  instructed  implicitly  to  regard  all  the  lessons  I  might 


m- 


.'.Ml    \'i 


;,i' ., » 


118 


A    woman's    I.IFK-WOUK. 


i  I 


ii 


* 

1    ' 


give  liiin.  I  gave  them  all  a  charge  to  say  notlung  of  go- 
iiig  farther  than  Toledo,  Ohio,  and  talk  of  no  farther 
l)aek  than  Cincinnati. 

While  on  onr  way  George  pointed  at  a  wire,  and  told 
his  wife  it  was  a  telegraph-wire,  at  which  yhe  dodged  back, 
and  for  a  moment  seemed  as  badly  frightened  as  thongh 
lier  master  had  Ix'en  in  sight.  It  was  a  Incky  thing 
for  us  that  no  stranger  hai)i)ened  to  be  in  sight,  as  her 
fright  would  have  betrayed  them.  Even  an  assurance 
from  Cieorge  that  the  wires  could  do  no  harm,  could 
hardly  satity  her,  until  he  appealed  to  me  to  confirm  his 
statement,  that  it  was  the  operators  at  each  cml  of  the 
wires  that  gave  information. 

The  day  before  we  reached  Toledo  one  of  the  drivers 
left,  and  the  steersman  employed  our  boy  William,  with 
the  consent  of  the  captain.  I  told  George  to  tell  William 
I  wanted  to  see  him  at  the  ex])irati(»n  of  the  tinu>  set  for 
him  to  drive,  lie  came  into  the  cabin,  while  the  other 
l)assengers  \\vn\  on  deck,  and  told  me  all  the  hands  seemed 
very  clever,  and  the  steersman  told  him  he  would  fuid  a 
good  place  for  him  to  work  in  Toledo,  and  that  he  would 
see  that  he  had  good  wages.  He  asked  him  various  ques- 
tions, that  led  him  to  disclo.sc  his  starting  point,  Vicksburg, 
]\rississij)pi.  As  he  was  so  very  friendly  he  answered  all 
liis  (pieries,  even  to  his  nuister's  name.  This  I  had  charged 
him  not  to  give.  As  George  and  the  other  colon.'d  nuin 
saw  the  steersman  and  another  man  employed  on  the  boat 
so  very  intimate,  and  careful  to  keep  William  with  them, 
they  l)egan  to  fear  for  their  own  safely.  There  came  up 
a  sudden  shower  during  William's  time  to  drive,  and  he 
got  thorougly  drenched  ;  and  as  he  had  no  change  of  gar- 
ments, the  steersman  and  the  other  boys  of  the  boat  fur- 
nished him  out  of  their  own  wardrobe,  it  had  noAV  become 
(liHiciilt  for  me  to  secure  an  interview  Avith  William,  on  ac- 
count of  his  close  friends,  and  I  became  as  fearful  of  the  tel- 
egrai)h  wires  as  was  Mary,  over  whom  we  had  u  little  sport. 


1  r 


AKUIVAI.    IN    TOLEDO. 


119 


But  William  Ix'i^iin  to  fear  all  was  not  ri<;lit,  and  ro- 
grottt'd  liavinji;  told  this  man  of  his  c'onditii)ii,  and  mado 
an  errand  on  deck,  as  ho  saw  mo  sittinj^  alono.  Jlo  told 
mo  all  ho  had  said  to  the  stoorsman.  1  told  him  to  apju-ar 
vory  oaroloss,  and  say  nothing,  hut  to  a[)iH'ai'  as  if  ho  was 
going  with  tlu^  stoorsman,  as  ho  had  suggested.  As  wo 
should  ho  in  Toledo  in  throe  hours,  I  would  go  into  the 
city,  and  the  women  and  (ieorg(^  would  follow  mo  to  a 
plaoe  of  safety  Thou  I  would  return  for  my  shawl,  that 
I  should  leave  on  the  hoat.  By  that  time,  the  {Kissongora 
Would  all  have  loft,  and  he  and  the  other  young  man  nuist 
remain  ahout  the  l)oat.  Then  1  would  watch  the  oppor- 
kuiity,  and  when  I  went  out,  I  should  turn  short  corners, 
hut  give  them  time  to  keep  me  in  sight.  Accordinly,  I 
returned  for  my  shawl,  hut  made  no  haste  to  leave  until 
those  close  friends  onti-red  a  saloon;  thou  was  our  time;  I 
gave  them  the  wink  and  loft  for  a  place  of  safety. 

After  I  liad  put  one  and  two  hi  a  i)laco,  my  next  work 
■was  to  solicit  money  to  pay  our  fare  to  Canada,  on  a  hoat 
that  was  to  leave  at  t)  A.  M.  the  luxt  day.  I  lore  were 
six  fares  to  pay  to  Detroit,  as  .Sarah  luid  Miiruiont  to  }>ay 
her  own.  The  friends  in  Cinoimial'  ha<l  paid  their  furo  to 
Toledo.  It  was  now  nearly  night,  und  1  had  hut  little 
time;  but  I  succeeded  hy  nine  oV-lock  the  next  morning, 
leaving  a  colored  man  to  conduct  them  to  the  hoat;  with 
hardly  live  minutes  to  spare  I  reached  the  hoat,  with  my 
living  freiglit. 

Once  out  in  the  lake  wo  felt  (piitc;  socur(\  Yet  tlu^n; 
was  a  possibility  of  a  telegram  being  sent  to  William's 
master,  and  danger  of  being  ovort:d<.on  by  otiicoi's  in  De- 
troit. Knowing  of  their  anxiety  to  sec  (anada,  1  waited 
until  we  were  near  enough  to  see  carriagi's  and  j)orsons  on 
the  road  on  the  other  side.  When  I  said  to  (reorgo's  wife 
"There  is  Canada."  *'  It  ain't,  is  it?"  "  It  is,  eortiiinly. 
It  is  where  no  slave-owner  can  claim  his  slave."  She  ran 
to  her  huslwmd  to  toll  the  good  news,     lint  neither  he  nor 


w 


120 


A    WOMAN'S    MFK-WORK. 


I   I 


\   I, 


the  balance  of  them  believed  hor,  and  all  came  running  to 
me:  "That  ain't  Canada,  is  it?"  Being  assured  that  the 
hind  of  freedom  was  in  full  view,  with  tears  of  joy  they 
gazed  upon  their  "  House  of  Refuge,"  and  within  forty 
minutes  we  were  there.  And  to  see  them  leap  for  joy  was 
rich  pay  for  all  my  care  in  their  l)ohalf  George  and  Jake 
had  both  armed  themselves  with  deadly  weapons,  in  case 
of  an  attempt  to  capture  them,  resolving  on  liberty  or 
death.  1  left  each  with  fifty  cents  and  returned  to  my 
own  sweet  home. 
^\  I  found   the  large  building  unfinished.      As  the  first 

buildings  were  temporary,  they  were  unsuitable  for  stu- 
dents to  occupy  another  Winter,  which  would  be  the  elevj 
enth  Winter  our  school  had  been  in  successful  operation. 
Brother  Fatchin,  our  principal,  was  called  to  another  field 
as  pastor  and  teacher,  and  would  go  if  the  new  building 
was  not  ready  for  use  by  the  following  academic  year. 
While  these  j)rol)abiliti(.'s  were  under  consideration,  brother 
J.  F.  Do.'beare  was  taken  from  us,  after  a  short  illness. 
As  he  was  an  important  trustee,  and  an  active  Christian 
■worker,  his  loss  was  severely  felt.  We  had  a  few  months 
previously  met  with  a  similar  loss  in  the  death  of  another 
trustee,  our  valued  friend  and  brother,  Elijah  Brownell,  a 
minister  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  Surely  dark  clouds 
,  again  overhung  our  favorite  institution,  in  which  many 
of  our  students  were  taught  in  the  scliool  of  (yhrist,  before 
they  came  to  us,  and  many  out  of  the  hundreds  who 
had  enjoyed  the  privileges  of  our  school,  we  had  good 
reasons  Hov  believing,  yielded  their  young  hearts  to  the 
loving  Savior's  invitation  Avhile  with  us.  With  the  undy- 
ing interests  of  the  youth  so  near  my  heart,  it  Avas  a  trial 
to  have  our  school  suspended  a  year;  but  what  could  I 
do?  I  must  keep  up  the  ten  per  cent  interest  on  three 
hundred  dollars  of  my  indebtedness,  and  could  not  c<m- 
tract  five  hundred  dollars  more  to  finish  the  institution 
building  erected  on   the  acre  of  ground  I  had  given  for 


1 


RAISIN   INSTITUTE  SUSPKNDED. 


121 


that  object.  It  was  inclosed,  and  a  portion  of  the  floors 
laid,  and  doors  and  windows  cased.  This  had  cost  over 
one  thousand  dolhirs  for  a  building  thirty  by  fifty-six  fi'ct. 

As  tiie  farm  was  still  carried  on  by  my  married  chil- 
dren, I  concluded  to  return  to  Cincinnati  and  engage  in 
nursing  the  sick  during  the  cold  season,  as  the  cough  to 
which  I  was  subject  was  returning.  All  things  considered, 
tiie  conclusion  was  reached  to  suspend  Iviiisin  Institute  one 
year  at  least.  Au  Oberlin  scholarship  was  i)resented  mo 
for  my  daughter  Laura  Jane,  who  decided  to  take  a  gen- 
tleman's collegiate  C(nirse.  Not  only  my  financial  pressure 
seemed  to  direct  toward  that  more  southern  field,  but  the 
cause  of  those  who  were  thirsting  for  liberty,  and  were  al- 
most daily  leaving  boats  or  crossing  the  river,  was  also  a 
strong  incentive  to  occupy  a  post  near  the  Southern  end 
of  the  road  whose  Ntjrthern  terminus  was  iu  Queen  Vic- 
toria's dominions. 

Many  of  my  friends  thought  me  presuming  to  venture 
so  near  those  who  had  threatened  my  life  repeatedly,  and 
in  the  hand-bills  of  the  Tennesseans  (report  saidj  there 
Avas  offered  S3, 000  reward  for  my  head.  Thomas  K. 
Ciiester  stated  in  a  letter  that  he  had  sent  them  to  a 
number  of  the  Southern  States,  to  let  them  know  what 
sort  of  sisters  they  had  in  the  North.  But  J.  F.  D()ll)eare, 
on  the  night  before  his  death,  called  me  to  his  bedside, 
a:ul,  taking  my  hand  in  his,  said,  "Sister  Ilaviland,  you 
have  passed  through  close  and  trying  places  in  your  work, 
and  your  anti-slavery  mission  is  not  yet  finished.  Your 
trials  are  not  over.  Greater  dangers  are  for  you  to  pass 
through — I  see  it.  O,  may  the  Lord  i)rcpare  you  for  the 
work  he  has  for  you  to  accomplish!  lie  has  sustained  you 
thus  far.  He  will  grant  you  his  protecting  arm.  I  know 
it."  I  have  often  had  occasion  to  remember  the  words  I 
listened  to  in  that  solemn  hour,  during  thirty  years  that 
have  since  passed. 

A  slave-owner  from  New  Orleans,  with  his  wife,  three 

11 


ill"/-' 

P- 


'  <. 


'ill 
1 1  m 


w 


122 


A  woman's  ijfk-wouk. 


!,H 


1  i 

!  ( 


.  1  i' 


t  ( 


i'i. 


5   ( 
J  ; 

I  , 

I I 


children,  and  their  nurse,  Marin,  were  bound  for  Cincin- 
nati. Wiien  at  Lonisvilic,  lie  was  told  it'  he  was  goinj^ 
to  spend  the  Suniiiier  in  ("ineiiuuiti  hi' M  he  >^ure  to  lof^o 
his  8ervant-«i:irl,  "as  that  city  is  cursed  with  iVee  ne;^fr(i('.«j 
and  a1)olitionists."  At  this  unpleasant  iuforniation,  ('hani- 
l)lin  and  his  wife  concluded  to  make  their  teniixirary  houjo 
in  Covington,  instead  of  Cincinnati,  to  the  great  disap- 
pointment of  ]\raria,  as  she  and  her  husband  had  been  over 
two  years  in  saving  all  their  little  silver  pieces,  until  tho 
amount  was  one  hundred  dolhirs,  which  was  to  bo  used  iu 
taking  her  to  Canada. 

As  this  "Northern  trip"  had  been  calculated  two  or 
three  years  before,  and  as  they  went  to  no  j)lact!  without 
their  i'aithful  nurse,  the  slave  couj)le  also  made  their  ])lans. 
Her  husband  told  her,  as  she  would  have  a  good  oi)portu- 
nify  to  secure  her  freedom,  ho  would  manage  to  .secrete 
himself  on  some  through  boat,  and  meet  her  in  Caniida ; 
and  he  could  go  -with  less  money  than  she  could,  and  in- 
sisted upon  her  taking  all  they  had  saved.  But  after 
INTniia  found  they  were  going  to  hire  rooms  and  board  in 
a  hotel  in  Covington,  she  went  to  the  trunk  that  contained 
lier  clothes  and  the  children's,  and  to  her  great  disap- 
pointment her  hundred  dollars,  that  she  had  so  securely 
tied  in  a  little  rag  and  rolled  in  her  garments,  Avas  taken 
out  by  her  mistress,  who  never  i)retended  to  go  to  her 
trunk  for  anv  thimj:,  having  no  care  whatever  of  her  chil- 
dren's  Avanlrobe.  But  she  must  hide  her  feelings  by  })utting 
on  a  cheerful  face,  though  she  felt  as  though  all  her  hojies 
of  freedom,  of  which  she  had  so  fondly  dreamed,  were 
l)lasted  forever. 

She  found  her  task,  as  usual,  "was  to  keep  the  wardrobe 
of  her  mistress  and  the  children  iu  order,  and  care  for  the 
children  day  and  night.  A  few  days  elapsed,  and  she 
asked  her  mistress  if  she  Avould  please  give  her  money  to 
purchase  herself  a  pair  of  shoes,  as  she  heard  they  were 
cheaper  here  than  at  home.     She  said  she  would  either  get 


1 


i 


AID   <)1  FKUKD    MARIA. 


123 


licr  ftlioos  or  j,'ivo  hor  tlio  money  in  a  few  days;  but  neither 
shoes  nor  money  came.  Two  and  thre(!  weeks  passed,  and 
Maria  ventured  to  repeat  her  recpiest ;  hut  the  reply  was, 
"  Yoiu"  shoos  arv!  jrood  enoULrii  for  a  while;  yet," 

While  her  master  and  mistress  were  over  tlu;  river,  sho 
frei]ucntly  took  the  children  to  the  river,  to  amuse  them  in 
lookiu}^  at  boats  and  in  pickini;  uj)  pebbles  on  the  bank, 
when  her  longing  look  was  notieed  by  a  white  man,  who 
ventured  to  ask  her  if  shi;  would  like  to  go  across  the 
river.  She  told  him,  if  she  did,  slu;  had  no  money  to  give 
to  any  one  who  would  take;  her.  After  learning  that  her 
master's  residence  was  in  NtiW  Orleans,  he  told  her,  if  she 
Avould  never  let  any  one  know  that  he  had  nvor  said  or 
done  any  thing  about  hel[)ing  her,  let  what  would  happen, 
lie  would  take  her  over  without  any  thing,  in  the  night, 
whenever  she  could  get  away;  but  if  it  was  ever  known 
there  it  would  ruin  him.  She  promised  ;  and  as  no  one 
was  near,  and  the  three  children  playing  at  a  little  dis- 
tance, he  pointed  her  to  a  large  root  on  the  bank,  under 
which  she  could  hide,  and  th(>rc  wait  until  she  heard  a  low 
whistle  near  the  root,  when  she  could  come  out  and  Ktep 
into  a  skiff  without  saying  a  word,  and  he  would  mutile 
the  oars  so  as  not  to  be  heard,  and  take  her  to  a  colored 
family  he  knew  over  the  river,  where  she  would  be  safe 
until  they  would  send  her  on  to  Canada. 

"  But  how  can  I  go  on,  when  I 's  got  no  money?" 

"  They  know  of  a  way  to  send  such  people  as  you 
without  money.  You  '11  get  with  those  over  there  who 
will  see  you  safe ;  never  fear." 

"I  never  can  tell  you,"  she  said,  in  relating  lier  story, 
**  how  strange  I  felt  about  sicli  good  news  as  this,  and 
wondered  if  it  could  be  true.  I  jus'  trimbled  like  a  poj)j)lo 
leaf  all  the  cvenin'.  ^Master  and  missus  was  over  in  the 
city  to  a  lecture  on  Fernology,  and  did  n't  get  back  till 
twelve  o'clock.  I  kep'  the  chillen  awake  later 'n  common, 
SO  they  'd  sleep  sounder.     Then  I  tied  ray  clothes  up  in  a 


1 


i  i^»i;:U4i 


^m 


,) 


7 


'ill;  t  ■• 
111''-'-... 


IIV 
i    < 


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1 


1(1;; 


124 


A    woman's   LIFf>W()RK. 


tifr'lit  buiiflle,  an'  had  my  slices  an'  hat  whar  I  VI  lay  hau's 
(»n  'cm,  an'  put  out  the  light.  I  was  snorhi',  when  missus 
looked  in  un'  said,  'All's  asleep — all  right;'  an'  I  waited 
till  the  eloek  struek  one,  an'  all  still.  I  erep'  sof'ly  out  on 
the  street,  and  down  to  the  root,  an'  waited  for  a  whistle. 
The  cloek  struck  two.  O,  how  long!  Will  that  man 
come?  Chillen  may  cry,  an'  missus  fin'  me  gone.  Had  I 
better  wait  till  it's  three  o'clock?  May  be  he  can't  come. 
He  said,  if  any  thing  hapi)en  he  could  n't  come  to-night, 
I  mus'  go  back,  an'  try  another  night.  An'  'bout  as  I  be- 
gan to  think  I  better  go  back  come  the  whistle.  I  stepped 
in,  an'  we  went  over;  but  the  clock  struek  three  before  wc 
got  half  across,  an'  he  was  mighty  fear'd  he  couldn't  get 
back  afore  daybreak." 

News  reached  us  during  the  day  that  a  woman  crossed 
the  river  early,  and  was  so  near  it  as  to  be  dangerous  for 
a  hiding-place ;  and  it  fell  to  my  lot  to  see  her  in  a  safe 
])lace  as  soon  as  the  darkness  of  night  wotdd  shield  us  from 
being  detected  by  Champlin  and  his  aids,  who  were  already 
seen  at  street  corners.  I  took  a  black  Quaker  bonnet  and 
a  drab  shawl  and  a  plain  dress-skirt  in  a  market-basket, 
with  which  to  disguise  our  fugitive. 

I  found  her  in  a  dark  room,  where  I  fixed  her  up  for 
a  walk;  and  she  told  me  of  her  loss  of  the  hundred  dol- 
lars, but  I  told  her  all  would  be  well  without  it.  I  in- 
structed her  to  take  my  arm  as  we  went,  and  take  good 
care  to  limj)  all  the  way,  for  we  should  j)ass  plenty  of 
Kentuckians.  Thickly  veiled,  we  walked  half  a  mile, 
turning  short  corners  to  elude  watchers,  if  any,  from  our 
starting-point.  As  wc  went  up  Central  Avenue  to  Long- 
worth,  we  })assed  through  a  crowd,  one  of  whom  said: 

"I'm  going  to  line  my  pockets  to-night.  Thar 's  five 
hundred  dollars  reward  out." 

Said  another,  in  a  low  tone,  "  When  did  she  cross?" 

*'  Last  night  some  time,  they  say." 

1  'y  Quaker  sister,  limjiing  at  my  side,  was  trembling,  I 


i 


fl 


HID   IN  A  I'OOIi   I»LA(.'E. 


125 


sensibly  felt,  as  she  hung  upon  my  arm,  as  we  listened  to 
these  remarks  from  her  pur>«uers.  I  took  her  to  a  very 
intelligent  e(;lorcd  family  on  Longworth  Street,  wlio  were 
^vell  known  to  us  as  true  friends. 

Although  I  had  passed  her  pursuers  without  fear,  yet 
when  Levi  Coffin  informed  mc  that  l?uffin,  the  greatest 
slave-hunter  in  the  city,  had  just  moved  next  door  to 
Burgess,  where  I  left  jNIaria,  my  fears  were  almost  equal 
to  iMaria's.  "Laura,  thou  hast  left  thy  fugitive  with  a 
good  family,  hut  in  a  poor  place,"  said  our  venerable 
friend,  "But  wait  until  to-morrow  evening,  when  thou 
hadst  better  give  her  another  move,  as  I  know  they  will 
use  all  possible  care.  Tiic  following  evening  Levi  nud 
friend  Hughes  were  to  l)e  on  C'entral  Avenue  near  Jjong- 
worth  Street,  and  as  I  came  out  with  my  (Quaker  woman, 
they  were  to  walk  half  a  block  ahead  and  turn  on  Mintii 
Street  to  his  house,  and  if  sister  Catherine's  sign  apjteared 
on  the  balcony  of  the  second  story,  we  were  to  ascend  the 
outside  flight  of  steps,  and  take  her  up  to  the  attic  in  tlie 
fourth  story. 

Chaniplin  had  doubled  the  reward,  and  was  raving 
with  ratre  over  the  loss  of  their  nurse.  lie  said  he  would 
have  her  if  he  had  to  "  set  one  foot  in  hell  after  her," 
cursing  and  swearing  in  a  perfect  foam  ;  and  said  a  thou- 
sand dollars  should  be  doubled  but  what  he  would  have 
her.  As  the  streets  were  too  well  lighted,  to  give  her  the 
appearance  of  a  white  person  tlu-ough  the  veil,  I  calk'd 
for  a  saucer  of  flour,  with  which  I  thoroughly  jxtwdcred 
her  face.  Before  her  veil  was  adjusted  she  happened  to 
look  up  and  saw  herself  in  the  largo  mirror  before  her, 
and  burst  into  a  laugh  over  her  whit<'  face  and  (Quaker 
bonnet.  I  gave  Ikt  a  shake  as  I  placed  my  hands  over 
her  shoidders :  "Don't  laugh  loud,  for  your  liberty's  sake. 
Remember  the  next  door  neighlior  would  get  his  thousand 
dollars  reward  from  Champlin,  if  he  could  know  you  are 
here."     "  I  won't  look  at  that  glass  ag'in,  I  looks  so  (juare." 


t:     ■■ 


w 


126 


kr), 


A   WOMAN  H    J  JFK-WORK. 


I  took  hor  on  the  front  wiilk,  and  following  our  previons 
plan.s,  at  the  invitation  of  the  white  cloth  on  the  balus- 
trade, we  soon  found  ourselves  in  the  attic.  She  remained 
here  two  weeks,  not  daring  to  move  in  any  direction,  as 
the  wealthy  New  Orleans  planter's  biped  bloodhounds  were 
seen  and  heard  from  in  almost  every  direction  through 
the  city. 

As  there  was  in  this  case  an  unusual  excitement,  the 
editor  of  the  Cincinnati  Commercial  inserted  a  little  note 
in  his  i)a})er,  of  the  escape  of  the  New  Orleans  nurse  from 
her  (jwners,  who  were  boarding  at  White  Hall  Hotel  in 
Covington  ;  and  that  the  mistress  had  taken  one  hundred 
dollars  from  the  nurse  previous  to  their  arrival  at  their 
destination.  The  day  following  this  notice  Champlin  came 
to  the  Commercial  ofRce  and  demanded  the  authority  the 
editor  had  for  charging  his  wife  with  stealing  from  their 
servant.  For  -whether  it  Avas  he  or  any  one  else,  it  would 
prove  a  dear  job  to  vilify  his  wife  like  this,  for  he'd  have 
their  life  or  $3,000;  and  swore  nothing  short  would  settle 
it.  He  told  the  editor  lie  would  give  him  till  ten  o'clock 
the  next  morning,  when  he  should  come  prepared  for  the 
settlement  (referring  to  his  j)istols,  which  he  knew  how  to 
use).  At  once  Levi  Coffin  received  a  call  from  the  editor 
for  advice,  as  he  was  his  informant.  During  this  inter- 
view, Catherine  came  into  our  room,  saying,  "  Laura,  they 
are  in  a  tangle  with  that  New  Orleans  slave-holder,  and 
they  want  thee  to  help  straighten  it."  Going  in,  I  was  in- 
troduced to  the  editor,  and  main  proprietor  of  the  Com- 
mercial, and  they  related  the  difficulty. 

"Now,"  said  Levi,  "this  young  man  has  invested  in 
this  firm  all  he  is  worth,  and  (^hamplin  will  probably  ruin 
his  business  if  he  fails  to  give  his  authority  for  stating 
INIaria's  loss  of  her  hundred  dollars;  and  as  I  gave  him 
these  facts,  in  case  he  gives  my  name  as  authority,  he  will 
then  come  upon  me,  and  make  trouble,  as  Champliu  seemed 
determined  upon  vengeance." 


I 


I 


• 


\ 


FOLLOWKI)    15 Y   SLAVE-lIUNTEliS. 


127 


After  a  little  reflection  over  these  statements  and  threats 
I  told  them  I  did  not  sec  hut  I  came  next,  as  I  told  Levi 
these  facts,  which  1  took  from  ^laria  and  the  family  where 
.she  was  first  secreted.  And  as  I  had  no  ])roperty  in  Ohio, 
and  the  little  I  owned  in  ]Michi<fan  I  had  arrautred  to 
keep  from  slave-holders,  I  would  stand  in  the  gap  and 
our  young  friend  might  refer  to  me  as  authority,  if  com- 
pelled to  give  it,  rather  than  lose  his  life,  or  pro])erty  even. 

Baid  Levi,  "This  is  liable  to  terminate  in  a  serious  allliir. 
It  would  lay  thee  liable  to  im])risonnient  if  he  is  so  dis- 
posed, and  thy  children  in  ^Michigan  would  feel  very  sad 
over  such  an  event." 

I  rei)lied  that  I  did  not  fear  of  remaining  long  in 
prison,  neither  did  I  believe  he  was  going  to  be  permitted 
to  jnit  mc  there,  but  at  all  events  I  was  fully  i)re{)ared  to 
allow  my  name  to  be  given.  With  this  conclusion  our 
young  friend  left  us,  saying  that  if  he  could  manage  that 
exasperated  man  without  naming  me,  he  would  do  so. 
We  were  all  anxiously  Avaiting  to  see  the  result  of  the 
fearful  meeting  at  the  hour  of  ten  the  following  day. 
Champliu  was  there  at  the  hour,  with  the  stern  query, 
"Are  you  ready,  sir,  to  give  me  your  authority,  or  abide 
the  c;>nse(piences?" 

"I  am,  sir.  The  colored  family  where  she  first  stopped 
informed  us." 

"Do  you  take  a  nigger's  testimony?" 

"Certainly  I  do.  They  are  respectable  and  honest, 
though  poor." 

After  pouring  forth  a  volley  of  oaths,  and  saying  he 
wouldn't  stoop  so  low  as  to  notice  what  a  nigger  would 
say,  Ibr  they  were  all  a  pack  of  liars,  he  left  the  otlice,  to 
the  great  relief  both  of  the  editor  and  ourselves  Very 
soon  he  came  to  us  with  the  pleasing  report,  how  tln^sc 
pistols,  so  full  of  })owder,  flasluMl  in  the  pan. 

But  the  slave-hunters  were  still  so  numerous,  it  was 
thought  best  to  dretis  her  up  for  another  walk,  and  I  took 


ill 


,)!; 


I     ill' 

1|5 


!  I 


111'* 


i 


i» 


l'J8 


A    AVOMAN  S    MKK-WOmv, 


licr  io  a  fainily  noar  lAxirtrrnlli  Slr('(>l,  and  Avroto  a  Icllor 
ill  Maria's  name,  (o  her  inasfcr,  dated  it  ali(':id,  and  from 
Wiiidsdi',  Canada  West,  and  .sent  it,  incldscd  in  a  \vMvv  to 
a  iVicnd  at.  Iluit.  ])la('(',  with  directions  \t\  nijiil  it.  to  tlio 
master  at  llie  dale.  I  liad  ^iveii.  Maria  iidni'nied  her  mas- 
ter ('hampiin  that  (  anachi  was  nn(  the  cold  harrcn  country 
he  had  always  lold  lu>r  it  was,  I'or  lliey  raised  ureat.  fields 
ol'  coin,  and  potatoes,  jteas  and  heans,  and  evei'vthini;:  she 
saw  in  Kentucky;  and  that  slic  had  found  the  hest.  ol" 
iVieiids  ever  since  she  left   home,  and  siuiied  lier  name. 

In  los  than  (wo  weeks  Kitty  I)orun's  nieei^  canu*  in 
ureal,  iiasle  to  inform  us  that  "Champlin  had  p:(»t  poor 
Maria,  and  Aunt  Kitty  is  lu-arly  ci-yini,^  her  eyes  out  over 
the  sad  news  that  a  colorctl  man  hrouuht  over  last  ni^lit." 

"That   is  all  a  mistake. " 

"Oh,  no,  it's  no  mistake,  for  that  colored  man  workctl 
near  ^^'hile  Ilall  yt'stcrday,  and  he.  said  the  report  was 
iusi   Ihini.:,-." 

I  hushed  her  huid  word.',  and  whispereil,  "  I  can  lake 
vou  to  Maria  in  ten  niinulc'^,  I  know  just  when;  she  is," 

"Arc  vou  .^fMV,  and  may   I  l:o  lell  Aunt   KitlyV" 

"(Jo  and  wliis|)cr  it,  for  there  are  hut.  few  friends  who 
know  sh(>  is  still  in  the  city,  hecause  of  the  close  search 
made  for  her,  thai  is  still  kept  u[)." 

The  ni'Xt  day  she  came  lo  us  with  another  story, 
"That  he  didn't  get  Maria,  hut  got  a  l(>ttt'r  from  her  in 
Canada.      Antl  that  was  the  current  report." 

I  told  her,  "  I  understood  that  too,  and  would  tell  her 
all  within  a  lew  wc»'ks." 

The  result  ol"  this  letter  was  ji  -withdrawal  of  all  lla^ 
hii-ed  hunters  within  hventy-foiir  hours,  and  during  llirct' 
<lays'  (piiet  two  ^oung  nu'ii  came  from  a  few  miles  distant 
across  the  river,  who  got  the.  privilege  of  a  holiday,  and 
of  spiMiding  it  ni^arly  leu  miles  farther  from  the  river  than 
was  Iheir  home,  .\s  they  left  llur  night  hefon>,  ihey 
would   luivc  until   tlio  next  luoruiug  before  heing  missed. 


I 


IIUUTIKII    TIIUF^ATS. 


V2\) 


As  Ciizy  (ono  of  our  vi^iliiiico  coiiiniillcc)  nimc  licforo  mui- 
risr  to  iiilorm  us  oC  llic  new  iirrival,  ( 'alliiiriiit'.  Cudiii  caino 
to  my  l)('(l-ro()iii  :ui(l  gav<!  mo  a  call:  "(Joiik*,  Laura,  licro 
arc  inoro  runaways;  Ca/.y  is  Iici-(^  and  IIk'V  want  thro." 
In  less  tlian  l'iv(^  miniilos  tlicn!  wcro  (our  nl'  iis  to  dccido 
oil  tlu'  [)laii  of  Kfcuriii;^  llit;  newcomers  and  tlu;  one*  on  onr 
hands.  "  Wliat,  shall  wo  do?  Onr  funds  arc  out,  we, 
haven't  a  dinu;  in  our  tn^asury,"  said  Ca/y. 

"  W(!  must  ;,'et  enough  to  take;  thesis  two  young  men 
and  IMaria  out  as  far  as  the  Sttd)I»s  settlement  to-night," 
I  n^plied;  "  for  you  see.  all  is((niet  now  over  Maria,  and  l>y 
to-morrow   thi^   citv  will   fdl    U|>  again   with   slave  hunters." 

"/riiat  is  what  I  toM  ( 'a/y  before  tlmu  came  in;  hut 
he  says  he  has  a  jol)  on  his  hands  he  can  not  leave," 
said  Levi. 

"  Where  is  IlugliesV" 

"I  don't,  l)eli(;vo  1  could  get  him  to  leave  his  work  to 
see  to  it  ;  but  may  be  he'll  g<)  for  yon,"  said  ( 'azy. 

"I'll  try."  And  throwing  on  my  shawl  and  bonnet, 
called  on  Hughes,  an<l  told  him  h(^  must  go  and  take  Maria 
and   two  young  men   who   had    just   arrived   this   morning. 

"  I'mt.  what   can  we  di»  without   money?" 

"  I'll  get  it.  to-(iay.      What  amount  is  wanting?" 

"It  will  take  eight  dollars  to  hire  a  close  cari'iag(>  and 
learn  to  go  thirty  miles  to-night,  and  i  must  be  back  to 
my  work  by  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning." 

"I'll  have  that  ready  before  lught." 

"Then  I'll  call  at  l'n<'l<;  Levis's  at  noon,  and  wo 
whether  you  are  sure,  of  success  in  getting  the  money; 
then  I  will  call  at  th(^  liv(!ry  on  my  return  to  my  work 
and  engage  the  carriage  and  team,  to  Ik;  ready  by  hevcn 
and  u  half  o'clock  this  evening." 

When  he  called  at  noon  I  had  four  dollars  in  money 
and  a  traveling  suit  for  Maria,  and  knew  just  where  I 
couM  get  tlu!  balance.  Now  for  th<>  plan  of  starting.  I 
told  liini  he  must  manage  the  twu  men  and  I  would  man- 


m, 


If 


'% 


if 


130 


A  woman's  life-work. 


age  for  Maria.  "But  there  are  two  toll-gates  that  are 
closely  watched  for  colored  people,  and  I  want  you  to  go 
with  us  past  those  gates,  as  two  white  ])ers()ns  in  front 
would  i)ass  the  load ;  not  seeing  any  colored  people,  they 
■would  make  no  inquiries.  As  Catherine's  health  was  poor, 
and  cholera  was  raging  in  the  city,  she  was  not  willing  I 
should  remain  away  over  night,  and  Levi  secured  William 
Beckley  to  follow  us  a  little  distance  behind  until  we  had 
passed  those  gates,  when  I  was  to  return  with  him.  The 
carriage,  with  our  comi)any,  was  tc  be  driven  up  Central 
Avenue  as  far  as  tlie  or})hai.  .s}ji'."i,  and  halt  for  Maria 
and   myself;    and  as   he    j)asse'l  treet  she  was  on, 

Hughes  was  to  take  out  his  white  p'ickct  handkerchief  and 
Avlpe  his  face,  while  William  Fn;'  ,  vt  wiiose  house  Maria 
was  secreted,  was  to  walk  on  the  stijot  nt  liio  ^inie  ap- 
pointed to  wateh  f)r  tlie  signal;  when  discovered,  as  he 
turned  toward  the  hou:?e,  we  were  to  step  out  on  the 
street,  and  walk  the  half  block  where  our  carriage  was  in 
waiting." 

But  in  this  we  found  it  necessary  to  adopt  my  old  rule 
of  being  carelessly  careful,  as  there  were  Kentuckians  in 
their  rented  houses  each  side  of  William  Fuller's,  and  they 
were  overheard  to  say  three  days  before,  that  they  l)elieved 
thev  had  "  niirijers  hid  at  Fuller's,  for  the  blinds  in  the  second 
story  had  n't  been  oi)ened  in  two  weeks."  The  weather  being 
warm,  and  the  rising  of  the  full  moon,  and  their  next  door 
neighbors  sitting  on  their  front  porches,  all  combined  to 
bring  us  into  full  view.  As  we  were  watching  for  the  mo- 
ment to  start  ^^aria  took  up  her  bundle  of  clothes ;  but  I 
told  her  the  least  appearance,  aside  from  common  callers, 
wouhl  create  suspicion,  and  we  must  .send  them  after  her. 
"  lint  they 's  all  I  got,  an'  I  will  never  see  'em  ag'in,"  said 
jNIaria.  .sorrowfully. 

"  But  your  liberty  is  of  more  value  than  a  cart  load 
of  clothes." 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  knows  it;  but  I  can't  even  change." 


" 


Maria's  escape. 


131 


"  Hand  them  to  me,"  and  they  were  opened  and  tightly 
rolled  into  the  f*haj)e  of  a  .«ix  nioiith.s'  hahy  in  a  trice;  and, 
as  I  rolled  it  in  a  .shawl,  I  said,  "I'll  carry  the  hahy  my- 
self." The  watchful  wife  says,  "William  is  turning  hack, 
and  I  will  walk  to  the  corner  with  you."  As  we  reached  tho 
gate,  the  ueighhors  in  full  view,  sister  Fuller's  little  girl 
called,  "Mamma,  I  want  to  sec  tho  hahy;  I  didn't  know 
that  woman  had  a  hahy."  The  frightened  mother  tried  to 
hush  her  in  a  smothered  voice,  that  I  feared  would  hetrav 
her  excitement.  "Let  her  go  Avith  us,  mother,"  said  I. 
"But  auntie  hasn't  time  now  to  let  little  sis  see  the  hahy; 
wait  till  next  time  we  call,  hecause  we  are  late,  and  our 
folks  will  he  waiting  for  us,"  And  as  we  leisurely  walked 
alomi,  sister  Fuller  invited  us  to  come  another  time  to 
make  a  longer  call. 

After  turning  the  corner,  our  sister  and  little  girl  left 
ns,  and  we  quickened  our  pace  to  the  carriage  we  saw  in 
waiting.  Friend  Hughes  stood  hy  the  hitching-post,  hut 
looked  wild  with  excitement  when  he  saw  me  turn  to  tlie 
carriage,  as  he  knew  there  was  no  hahy  ahoard;  and  as  he 
had  hitched  in  a  darker  place  than  near  the  entrance,  he 
did  not  recognize  us.  But  as  I  gave  my  hahy  a  toss  in 
the  carriage,  saying,  "This  is  part  of  our  company;  take 
care  of  my  hahy,"  he  recognized  my  voice.  "  O,  yes; 
this  is  one  of  vour  tricks."  Hoon  we  were  .seated,  and  on 
our  way.  We  passed  the  two  fearful  gates  with  a  sharp 
look  by  each  keei)er,  and  half  a  mile  beyond  I  proposed  to 
return;  but  friend  Hughes  said  there  was  a  short  i)iece  of 
■woods  ahead  to  pass  through,  then  the  coast  would  be  clear 
the  balance  of  the  way,  and  he  woidd  rather  I  would  g<) 
through  the  woods  with  them.  Just  before  entering  the 
grove  we  heard  the  loud  talking,  singing,  and  laughing  of 
ten  or  a  dozen  men  we  were  going  to  meet. 

As  this  boisterous  company  apj)eared  before  us,  Hughes 
turned  to  the  two  men  behind  us,  uud  said,  "Are  your 
pistols  ready?" 


,J,vl 


H  , 


11  ■'■» 


132 


K'K' 


A    WOMAN'S   JirJMVORK. 


"Yes,  siih;"'  and  each  took  from  his  own  pocket  a 
eix-shootcr. 

"  Boys,  if  those  men  attomjit  to  take  our  horses  by  tlio 
hits,  and  I  say,  Fire!  ■will  you  do  it?" 

"  Yes,  sail." 

Said  I,  "  Hughes,  he  careful,  he  careful.  Your  excite- 
ment ^vill  betray  us  if  you  are  not  vcrif  carrfnl." 

**  Wc  don't  know  Avhat  ral)blc  we  are  going  to  meet, 
and  I  })roposc  to  be  rea<ly  for  'em." 

"  There  is  nothing  known  of  this  company,  and  I  know 
■\ve  are  nafe." 

"  I  do  n't  know  it;  and  if  they  make  the  first  moyc  to 
stop  us,  be  ready,  boys." 

"All  rea.ly.'' 

There  were  two  six-shooters  behind  me,  and  one  in  the 
liand  of  Hughes,  that  I  feared  much  more  than  all  the 
slayc-h(jlders  in  Kentucky. 

But  we  were  soon  relieyed  by  the  remark  of  one,  as  wo 
were  passing,  "  It  was  well  Ave  stopped  that  bent  from 
falling,  or  't  would  haye  killed  Smith  as  dead  as  a  ham- 
mer." "We  found  by  this  that  they  had  been  to  the  raising 
of  a  building,  and  a  nundjer  of  them  were  more  than 
lialf  drunk. 

After  going  a  mile  or  two  farther,  and  our  excitement 
was  oyer,  I  took  leave  of  our  company,  with  a  charge  to 
keep  rpiiet  and  all  would  be  well,  and  returned  to  Leyi 
Coffin's  by  twelve  o'clock.  The  following  morning  we  re- 
ceived a  good  re])ort  from  our  conductor,  Hughes,  of  the 
safe  delivery  of  this  valuable  freight  in  the  Quaker  set- 
tlement depot,  where  they  were  forwarded  to  Canada. 


CLAliA    IX   DANGER. 


133 


ftn 


Chapter  VI. 


FurjiTivr:  slavjos  assisted. 


The  exciting  intelligence  reached  us  that  Clam  and  her 
three  little  ones  were  ahoiit  to  he  captured  hy  .slave-holik'rs 
in  the  city,  on  Pearl  Street.  I  called  on  her  at  once,  and 
found  the  house  "was  surrounded  the  night  hefore  hy  stran- 
gers, who  were  followed  to  a  hotel,  and  on  the  record  the 
name  of  her  master's  sou  was  fouud.  Poor  woman!  She 
had  passed  through  great  suft'cring  in  making  her  escape 
with  her  two  children  ;  a  third  was  horn  in  Cincinnati — 
yet  it  too  must  share  the  anticijjated  fate  of  its  mother. 
She  had  always  heen  a  house-servant,  hut  f  )und  the  death 
of  her  master  was  ahout  to  make  great  changes,  he  being 
deei)ly  in  debt.  By  the  aid  of  a  chambermaid  she  was 
secreted  on  a  boat,  and  kept  the  two  children  drugged  with 
opiates  until  she  feared  they  would  never  come  to  life. 
But  after  her  arrival,  under  the  care  of  a  skillful  physi- 
cian, they  survived.  She  had  fouud  good  friends  among 
her  own  people  and  Church  two  years.  I  found  her  weep- 
ing, with  the  two  youngest  in  her  arms,  the  oldest  sitting 
on  a  stool  at  her  feet.  With  fast- falling  tears  she  kissed 
her  babes.  "  O  ma's  precious  darlings,  how  can  I  spare 
you !"  I  told  her  if  her  master  did  not  come  for  her  until 
it  was  dark  enough  to  conceal  her,  arrangements  were  made 
to  come  for  her  with  a  close  carriage,  to  take  thcni  out  of 
the  city  to  a  })lace  of  safety. 

"  I  reckon  you  can  't  save  us,"  she  sohbed. 

I  told  her  we  would  [)ray  the  I-iord,  who  knew  all  her 
deep  sorrow,  to  open  the  way  for  us. 

**  Yes,  I  cried  mightily  to  him  to  help  me  out  o'  that 


i 


.1 '   •  ■■    ; 


rw 


134 


A  woman's  lifjmvouk. 


I 


G) 


dark  land  l)a('k  yondor,  and  it  ']Kiu-cd  like  lie  did  bring 
mo  out;  l)iit  if  I  had  stuck  closer  to  him  I  reckon  he'd 
ko])'  nic  from  this  hard  trial;"  and  fr(>sh  tears  freely  flowed. 

A\'ith  ny  hands  on  her  shouhku's,  my  tears  nun'ded  wilh 
hers.  In  broken  sentences,  she  referred  to  the  separation 
of  her  husband  ^vhen  he  Avas  sold  and  taken  down  the  riyer. 

I  left  lu'r,  with  a  heayy  lieart,  yet  strong  hope  that  her 
young  master  (as  she  called  him)  Avould  bo  defeated. 

At  twilight,  I  calk'd  to  assist  in  getting  them  ready  to 
jump  into  the  carriage  that  our  friend  "William  Fuller 
Would  driyc  to  tho  door  within  fifteen  nu'nutes;  and  being 
ready,  wo  were  in  the  carria<'0  turnin<j;  tho  lirst  corntT 
withiu  a  minute,  and  loft  them  in  charge  of  an  under- 
ground railway  agent,  who  took  them  on  his  train  as  soon 
as  their  clothing  and  pocket-money  were  forwarded  to  thorn, 
to  the  great  relief  of  many  anxious  hearts. 

A  little  i^ast  nine  o'clock,  her  master  and  his  posse 
surrounded  tho  house,  and  Iny  in  wait  until  tho  stillness 
of  tho  midnight  hour  Avas  thought  most  iiivorablo  to 
pounce  upon  tiieir  prey  and  hurry  them  to  the  riyer, 
where  they  had  a  boat  in  waiting  for  them,  Tiien  their 
force  was  increased,  and  an  entrance  demanded,  Tho 
owner  of  the  house  (a  colored  man)  refused  admittance 
without  legal  authority,  although  threats  of  breaking  down 
the  door  or  windows  were  made ;  but  they  wore  resisted 
with  returning  tin-eats  of  shooting  the  first  man  that  dared 
to  enter  without  proper  authority.  As  they  were  expecting 
an  attack,  the  Avomen  had  left  their  home  for  the  night. 
The  Avatch  Avas  kept  around  the  house  until  morning  ap- 
j)roached,  Avhen  the  marshal,  with  his  official  papers,  Avas 
brought  to  claim  Clara  and  three  children.  But  to  their 
great  disa]>pointment,  in  searching  the  house,  no  Clara  or 
children  were  there.  In  great  rage  her  master  left,  swear- 
ing Vengeance  upon  him  who  had  kept  them  in  suspense 
all  night  when  ho  had  spirited  them  away,  for  he  knew  he 
had  harbored  his  property  in  his  house;  but  all  the  reply 


JACIC   lIKCArTrRKD. 


1^5 


he  received  wns,  "Prove  it,  if  you  wish."     They  got  no 
track  of  them  until  they  licanl  from  them  in  Canada. 
1^  A  fugitive  hy  tlio  name  of  Jack  secreted  himself  on  a 

large  steamer  from  the  lower  ^Mississippi,  and  left  it  on 
landing  in  Cincinnati.  lieing  so  far  from  his  old  home, 
ho  hired  himself  as  a  barher,  in  whicli  husiness  ho  was 
very  successful  about  two  years,  when  his  master  learned 
of  his  whereabouts.  lie  made  the  actpuiintanco  of  a  freo 
colored  man  hy  the  name  of  Kobert  liusscl,  who  was  an 
idle,  loafish  nuilatto,  sometimes  working  at  little  jobs  in 
Cincinnati,  and  also  in  Covington.  In  the  latter  place  ho 
fell  in  witli  the  slave-holder,  who  was  wateiiing  for  an  oj)- 
portunity  to  secure  the  aid  of  some  one  who  would  iuduco 
Jack  to  conio  to  the  river,  where  he  would  hurry  him  onto 
the  ferry,  and  get  him  on  the  Kentucky  side,  when  ho  could 
easily  return  him  to  the  far  South.  As  he  f  tund  Robert 
Ivussel  a  num  of  no  jjrinciple,  he  gave  him  ten  dolliirs  if 
ho  would  decoy  Jack  to  tiie  wharf  of  AValnut  Street  land- 
ing about  noon,  when  men  were  generally  at  dinner.  IIo 
succeeded,  when  the  nuister  with  his  Kentuckv  friends 
slipped  hand-ciifl's  on  i)oor  Jack,  and  took  him  on  the  ferry 
for  a  thief  The  more  Jack  i)rotested,  denying  the  charge, 
the  h>uder  they  cried  thief!  thief!  Some  of  his  colored 
friends  consulted  their  favorite  lawyer,  John  JoUiffe,  about 
arresting  Jack's  master  for  kidnaj)])iiig,  as  he  had  taken 
him  illegally,  but  they  were  told  they  could  do  nothing 
with  him  in  Kentucky.  They  were  compelled  to  leave 
their  friend  to  his  i'ate. 

But  the  Judas  who  betrayed  Jack  ought  to  be  brought 
to  justice;  but  how  could  they  do  it?  As  I  was  at  that 
time  teaching  a  school  of^colored  girls,  in  the  basement  of 
Zion  Baptist  Church,  a  ifumber  of  colored  men  came  to 
consult  with  mo.  I  told  them  as  Robert  Ivussel  was  a  ren- 
egade he  w\a.s  as  liable  to  serve  one  side  of  the  river  as  the 
other,  and  would  as  readily  1)ring  a  .slave  to  the  Ohio  side 
for  ten  dollars,  as  to  decoy  him  back  into  the  hands  of  his 


4.  '\ 

■ 

^ 

\^\}'' 

4\ 

1^ 

i^ 

i 

13(J 


A  woman's  Lirr:-W()iiK. 


master  for  that  moiuiy.  They  said  liubert  did  uot  dare 
come  into  Cinciuimti,  /Wiring'  tlmt  jii.-.tice  would  be  dealt 
out  ill  tar  and  Ic-atliers  by  thi;  colored  people.  They 
learned  soon  after  he  came  to  the  city  that  he  ran  away 
from  Jiipley  to  avoid  being  arrested  for  stc^aling.  I  advised 
them  not  to  take  the  law  of  tar  and  feathers,  as  they  had 
indicated,  in  their  own  hands;  but  to  spoil  the  pettiuj^  he 
was  getlin<;  from  the  slave-holders  across  the  river,  by 
warning  them  against  Kobert  Knssel,  for  he  would  as  read- 
ily play  the  rogue  one  side  as  the  other ;  and  this  they 
could  do  in  a  little  printed  card  that  might  be  drojjpcd  on 
the  sidewalk  througii  a  few  streets  in  Covington,  and  they 
would  run  him  out  of  their  town  in  a  hurry.  This  idea 
l)Ieased  them,  and  they  wished  me  to  draft  the  card,  and 
they  would  print  and  circulate  it.  I  told  them  I  would 
take  my  noon  recess  to  prepare  it,  and  at  4  o'clock  my 
school  Would  bo  out,  and  they  might  come  for  it.  I  gave 
it  as  follows: 

Slave-Holdors  of  Kentucky! 

BEWARE  OF  THE  ROGUE,  ROBERT  RUSSEL! 

AVlio  absconded  from  liipley,  Ohio,  to  evade  th(!  stronj?  arm  of 
th(*  law  ho  riclily  deserved  for  misdemeanors  in  that  town. 
Tills  man  is  a  li^lit  mulatto,  and  betrayed  one  of  his  race  for 
ten  dollars,  in  ("incinnati,  hriiiLrinf^  him  into  life-lonjj;  trnuljle. 
JI(!  will  as  n'adily  take  ten  dollars  from  any  of  your  slaves  to 
bring  them  to  Cincinnati,  and  a.u'ain  take  ten  tlollars  to  return 
them  to  you,  as  he  has  no  higher  purpose  to  serve  than 
l)altry  self.  A  Lovkr  of  IfuinT. 

This  was  printed  on  a  placard  of  ten  by  twelve  inches. 
Tiiey  procured  two  hundred  for  distribution,  but  found  it 
more  difficult  to  get  a  distributer  than  tliey  anticipated. 
I  told  one  of  them  to  go  to  Levi  CofHn's  and  inform  him 
and  his  wife  where  I  was  going  after  my  school  "was  dis- 
missed, and  that  I  would  distribute  them  through  Coving- 
ton, but  to  let  no  one  else  know  of  it,  except  their  com- 
mittee who  secured  the  printing,  as  it  would  produce 
increased  excitement.     I  went  a  mile  from  the  river  before 


.s 

1 

ii 

c 


IU)H    UrsSKL    IM'N    OI'T   OF   (T)VIN(ITON. 


137 


commencing  my  work,  and  left  one  or  two  in  every  yard, 
"wlien  no  cyo  seemed  dii\cle<l  toward  me.  I  dr(i|>]>ed  llieni 
l)y  the  street  side  until  I  readied  tlic  ferry  tlia^  returned 
mo  ♦'»  my  anxious  f'riend.s  in  Cincinnati,  just  as  llic  siui 
dn         i  heliind  the  Western  iiills. 

The  Inlhnving  day  report  gave  an  account  of  the  even- 
ing's excitement  in  Covington.  A  company  of  shivc-hold- 
ers  met  to  consult  over  this  jdacard,  and  the  conclusinn 
was  reached  to  give  IJoh  I'ussv'l  until  nine  o'clock  the  fol- 
lowing morning  to  leave  the  State  or  take  the  consecpiences. 
Two  .slaves  had  left  them  within  a  couple  of  months,  and 
thcv  charged  him  with  takin*'  them  over  the  river.  Some 
of  the  more  excitable  were  for  hauling  him  out  of  bed  at 
the  cU)se  of  their  meeting  (ten  o'clock),  ami  dealing  siun- 
mary  vengcanci^  f  »r  their  recent  losses,  but  as  he  pledg(>d 
himsi^^  to  leave  their  State  the  next  morning  never  to 
rcti         ♦hey  left  him  to  his  own  unconifortabie  reflections. 

^^  ^  irty  consisting  of  four,  from  New  Orleans,  came 
to  Cincinnati  to  .s])end  the  Summer,  and  made  their  home 
at  a  hotel.  It  was  soon  ascertained  by  the  colore<l  peoi)le 
that  their  little  nurse  girl  of  about  nine  years  of  age,  was 
a  slave,  and  as  the  master  and  mistress  had  brnught  her 
there,  she  was  bv  the  laws  of  Ohio  free.  Thcv  took  the 
opportunity  to  coax  her  away  and  jdace  her  among  their 
white  friends,  who  they  knew  Avould  take  good  care  of 
her.  Very  soon  there  was  great  UKpiiry  for  Lavina. 
They  said  she  was  just  a  little  pet  they  brought  with  them 
to  play  with  and  mind  the  l)aby,  and  they  knew  she  was 
stolen  from  them  against  her  will ;  but  that  If  they  couM 
get  sight  at  her,  she  would  run  to  them,  unless  slie 
was  forcibly  held  back  by  some  mean  ])erson.  Diligent 
search  was  made  among  the  colored  people  whom  they 
suspected,  but  no  clew  could  be  found  of  her  whereabouts. 
They  were  then  advised  to  visit  some  prominent  abolition' 
ists,  where  they  were  satisfied  she  had  been  taken.  So 
close  to  Elizabeth  Coleman's  were  they  watching,  that  she 

12 


,1 

,4 


■<ij  M 


■  I 
■  1  ' 

'A  '.--^ 


\    V 


1  Jb/'  il 


138 


A  woman's  life-work. 


% 


u 


.1   I 


felt  unsafe,  fearing  the}  might  come  in  and  find  her  alone 
Avith  her  littU;  pet  fugitive,  so  she  took  lier  to  Hamuel  Rey- 
nold's hy  night. 

The  search  continued.  ►Samuel  met  the  master  on  the 
street  in  front  of  his  house,  hut  had  left  orders  to  dress 
Lavina  in  his  little  boy's  suit;  and  holding  the  master  in 
cojiversatiou  awhile,  he  said  he  would  call  for  Jim,  to  bring 
them  a  glass  iHui  pitcher  of  water,  having  already  tcld  his 
wife  to  give  Jim  a  few  necessary  instructions  how  to  ap- 
j)ear  very  smart  and  active.  As  she  came  out  to  give 
them  drink,  Sanuud  gave  the  master  and  his  two  friends  a 
few  lessons  in  Ohio  law,  informing  him  that  all  slaves 
brought  into  tlie  State  by  their  owners  were  free.  Tlie  mas- 
ter contended  that  it  woidd  be  very  cruel  to  keep  Lavina 
from  her  mother  (who  belonged  to  him),  and  he  knew  if 
he  could  be  allowed  to  see  her  it  would  be  sufficient  to 
convince  them  of  her  attachment  to  him,  and  prtjuiised  to 
leave  the  child  to  her  own  choice.  "  But,"  said  Samuel, 
"T  tivina  is  on  our  underground  railroad."  This  was  as  new 
to  the  New  Orleans  slave-holder  as  were  the  Ohio  laws  he 
had  been  exi)laining.  After  discussing  the  right  and 
Avrong  of  his  claim,  Samuel  called  to  his  wife  to  send  Jim 
with  a  pitcher  of  water;  and  out  came  the  little  fellow. 
"Pour  a  glass  of  water  for  this  gentleman,  Jim  ;"  and  their 
heated  discussion  continued.  The  master  took  the  glass 
from  Jim,  who  looked  him  full  in  tiie  face,  Avitli  one  hand 
in  his  pocket,  while  Samuel  was  serving  the  other  two  gen- 
tlemtni  with  a  glass  of  water.  The  women  in  the  house 
were  filled  with  fear,  as  thev  deemed  Sanniel  rather  im- 
])rudent.  But  Jim  returned  with  jntcher  and  glass,  and 
the  master  and  his  frien<is  went  back  to  the  hotel  none  the 
wiser,  either  of  Lavina's  whereabouts  or  of  the  operation  oi' 
this  new  kind  of  railroad.  Lavina  was  well  cared  for,  and 
her  master  and  mistress  returned  to  Xew  Orleans  with 
a  new  experience,  viinus  a  nurse  girl. 

Another  fugitive,  by  the  name  of  Zack,  came    across 


I .. 


zack'h  hidin<j-place. 


139 


the  river  from  Virginia  into  Oliio.  lie  had  laiu  iu  the 
woods  by  day,  and  traveled  by  the  Nortli  Star  at  night, 
wlieii  it  was  clear,  but  in  rainy  or  cloudy  weather  he  found 
he  was  as  liable  to  go  South  as  North.  There  iiad  been 
much  rain  to  impede  bis  progress,  and  he  suilered  much 
from  hunger.  He  had  advanced  only  a  few  miles  from  the 
river,  when  he  found  a  family  of  true  friends,  who  re- 
plenished his  clothing,  and  was  preparing  food  for  bis  jour- 
ntv,  when  bis  master,  with  eiudit  other  men,  found  out 
Avhe/e  he  was,  and  came  with  officers  to  search  the  house 
and  take  their  i)rey.  They  came  in  the  night  and  de- 
nuiuded  entrance.  "Wife,  what  shall  we  do?  There  are 
men  under  everv  window." 

"Let  them  search  the  two  lower  rooms  first,  and  while 
you  go  with  them  you  tell  Zack  to  slip  mU)  my  room  while 
you  are  with  them,  and  I'll  see  to  him," 

"But  I  tell  you  he  cau't  be  got  out  of  this  house  with- 
out being  caught." 

"Go  on  ;  1  ku(nv  that."  And  he  left  her  and  gave  the 
frightened  man  his  orders.  But  before  he  reached  her  room 
she  I'olled  up  ihe  feather-bed  and  drew  the  straw  mattress  to 
the  front  side  of  the  bedstead,  and  told  Zack  to  jump  in. 
Her  order  obeyed,  she  threw  back  the  feather-bed,  and 
before  the  anaster  and  officer  entered  her  room  she  was 
occupying  the  front  side  of  the  bed.  The  clothes-press, 
wardrobe,  and  under  the  bed  were  all  closely  scrutini/ed. 
The    husband,   pale    with   excitement,    was 


n» 


ng, 


every  place  they  searched,  that  poor  Zack  would  be  found. 
But  they  all  left  satisfied  that  he  was  not  in  that  house, 
though  so  very  sure  they  had  found  the  right  place.  The 
noble  woman  said  he  shook  with  fear,  so  as  to  make  the 
bed  trend)le  during  the  search,  knowing  but  too  well  his 
sad  fate  if  he  should  again  fall  into  the  hands  of  bis  nuiste'r. 
Every  ncces.sary  measure  was  taken  to  hasten  his  j)rogre.«s 
to  Canada. 

Iu  December,  1852,  Culviu  Fairbanks,  who  liad  served 


<t*l 


4' 

4'. 


140 


A  woman's  life-work. 


1    .>  ' 


I*' 


(•■. , 


ii . 


a  terra  of  three  years  in  the  Kentucky  penitentiary  for  aid- 
ing shives  to  escape,  called  at  Levi  Coffin's  and  informed 
me  of  a  letter  he  had  received,  giving  information  tiiat  an 
interesting  slave  woman  in  Louisville,  Kentucky,  could 
cross  the  river,  if  a  friend  would  meet  iier  at  Jeffersou- 
ville,  Indiana,  and  take  her  to  a  place  of  safety ;  and  he 
proposed  to  be  the  conductor.  I  advised  him,  by  all  means, 
not  to  go  so  near  Kentucky,  as  he  was  so  well  known  through 
that  State.  He  said  he  expected  we  would  oppose  him.  I 
advised  him  to  consult  with  Dr.  Brisbane,  as  Levi  was 
absent.  But  he  chose  to  keep  the  matter  quiet,  and  went 
on  his  dangerous  expedition.  I  was  called  away  to  College 
Hill  as  nurse,  and  in  three  Aveeks,  when  I  returned  to 
Levi's,  he  called  me  into  the  store,  saying,  "We  have  a 
letter  for  thee  to  read ;  somebody  is  in  trouble,  and  Samuel 
Lewis,  Dr.  Brisbane  and  myself  have  been  trying  to  find 
out  who  it  is,  but  can  make  out  nothing  by  the  letter. 
The  signature  is  of  stars,  that  he  says  is  the  number  of 
letters  in  the  name,  but  we  can  make  nothing  of  it ;"  and 
he  handed  me  the  letter,  dated  from  Louisville  jail. 

As  soon  as  T  counted  the  six  stars  in  the  first  name,  I 
said,  "  Ivcvi,  it  is  Calvin  Fairbanks!  Kead  out  the  last 
line  of  stars,  and  we'll  find  Fairbanks." 

At  this  point  Dr.  Brisbane  entered  the  store. 

"Doctor,"  sail  Levi,  'Laura  has  found  our  riddle; 
she  says  it  is  Calvin  Fairbau'-'s." 

Both  were  astonished,  not  knowing  lie  was  down  the 
river.  I  told  them  of  his  call  in  Levi's  absence,  and  of 
his  errand. 

"Poor  man,  how  he  will  suffer,  for  they  will  soon  find 
him  out,  and  they  are  so  very  bitter  against  him,  I  fear  he 
will  die  in  their  penitentiary,  for  they  will  have  no  mercy 
on  him,"  said  the  doctor. 

"  Ho  si>iids  us  an  appeal  for  help,  but  I  see  no  way  we 
can  render  him  assistance,"  res[)ond(Hl  Levi, 
r^?      A  few  weeks  later  a  colored  man,  who  had  been  mis- 


e 


,  I 


PRO-SIiAVEUY    MURDERS. 


141 


taken  for  a  slave,  was  released  from  that  jail.  He  came 
to  us  telling  of  the  sufrering  the  prisoucrs  endured,  having 
no  bed  but  a  pile  of  filthy  straw  in  their  cells ;  and  that 
Calvin  reque'i'^ed  him  to  see  his  friends,  and  tell  us  he 
inust  perish  unless  a  quilt  and  flannel  underclothing  Avere 
furnished  him ;  nnd  he  also  needed  a  little  jwcket  money. 
No  one  dared  to  take  these  articles  to  him,  for  only  two 
weeks  previously  a  man  by  the  name  of  Conklin  had 
l)rought  the  wife  and  four  children  of  an  escaped  slave 
into  Indiana,  and  was  captured  in  the  night.  All  were 
taken  to  the  river,  and  the  poor  woman  and  her  children 
returned  to  their  owner,  without  her  meeting  the  husband 
and  father,  who  had  sent  for  them.  Conklin  was  bound 
"with  ropes  and  thrown  into  the  river,  where  he  was  found  a 
few  days  after.  Four  weeks  })efore  Williams,  from  Massa- 
chusetts, followed  two  little  mulatto  girls  who  were  stolen 
from  their  free-born  parents  by  a  peddler,  and  found  them 
near  Baltimore,  Maryland.  As  soon  as  his  errand  was 
made  known  a  band  of  ruflians  lynched  him. 

Tiiese  two  cases  of  murder,  without  the  send)lance  of 
law,  had  produced  much  excitement  in  the  North,  and 
now  the  Fairbanks  case  was  increasing  the  exasj)eratiou 
of  the  South.  But  here  was  a  suffering  brother  in  prison. 
{^  A  few  days  of  earnest  prayer  determined  mo  to  go  to 
Louisville  jail  with  a  trunk  of  bed  clothes  and  under  flan- 
nels. I  looked  for  strong  opposition  from  my  friends,  but 
to  my  surprise  when  I  proposed  the  j)lan  to  my  friends 
Levi  and  Catherine  Coffin,  they  favored  my  project.  Cath- 
erine did  her  full  share  in  furnishing  a  trunk,  a  thiek 
comfortable  and  pillow  ;  others  soon  brought  a  change  of 
flaimels ;  and  as  Levi  met  friends  and  made  known  my 
pnject  of  going  to  Louisville,  the  mites  were  brought  to 
the  amount  of  fourteen  dollars  for  Calvin,  and  enough  '.o 
bear  my  expenses.  Levi  saw  Captain  Barker,  who  j)o.s- 
scssed  an  interest  in  the  line  of  j)ackc(s  running  to  T^oiiis- 
ville,  and  he  offered  ])alf  fare,  and  promised  to  send  for 


142 


A  woman's  i.ifk-work. 


Mi: 


in 


■»  i 


mc  ill  time  for  the  Beu  Franklin,  No.  2,  to  leave  for  Louis- 
ville the  next  day  at  2  P.  M. 

Dr.  Brisbane,  on  returning  from  an  absence  of  a  few 
days,  told  Levi  not  to  allow  so  rash  a  move,  and  said  that 
I  must  not  go  to  Louisville  in  this  excitement,  for  it  was 
dangerous  in  the  extreme ;  and  he  referred  to  Conklin's 
fate,  that  was  just  as  likely  to  be  mine.  This  so  discour- 
aged Levi,  that  he  said,  "  It  may  be  we  have  been  too 
fast  in  giving  thee  wcjrds  of  encouragement."  ^ly  rcj)ly 
was,  "  I  find  no  geographical  lines  drawn  by  our  Savior  in 
visiting  the  sick  and  in  j)rison." 

Here  was  a  suUering  brother,  who  had  fallen  among 
tliieves,  and  I  felt  it  my  duly  to  go  to  his  relief  There 
seemed  also  a  clear  answer  to  prayer  that  I  should  be  pro- 
tected ;  and  if  time  would  allow  mc  to  call  on  Dr.  Brisbane 
before  I  left  for  the  boat,  I  would  do  so,  as  I  desired  to 
see  him. 

"If  thou  art  going,  I  advise  thee  not  to  call  on  the 
doctor,  as  I  know  how  he  feels  about  thy  going,  and  all 
thy  reasons  will  not  satisfy  him  in  the  least." 

I  told  him  if  the  doctor  or  any  one  else  would  go,  I 
should  feel  easy  to  give  it  uj),  but  otlujrwise  I  could   not. 

During  this  conversation  jNIehmcthon  Henry  came  in, 
as  he  said,  "with  his  mite"  of  three  silver  dollars  for 
brother  Fairbanks.  lie  said,  "  You  are  going  into  the 
lion's  den,  and  my  prayer  is  that  you  may  be  as  wise  as  a 
serpent  and  harndess  as  a  dove.  I  know  the  venom  of 
the  serpent  is  there  in  power,  but  God  will  give  his  chil- 
dren the  wisdom  without  the  ])()ison."  Melancthon  was  a 
son  of  Patrick  Henry,  who  had  cmancij>ated  him  with  his 
slave  mother.  He  was  a  mend)er  of  the  Wesleyan  Meth- 
odist Church,  to  which  I  was  at  that  time  attached. 

Soon  after  Captain  Barker  sent  for  me,  and  told  me  to 
refer  Colonel  Buckner  to  him  in  presenting  my  note  of 
introduction,  as  he  was  favorably  acquainted  with  the  col- 
onel, and  he  shtjuld  mention  me  as  one  of  his  friends. 


VISIT    TO    LOUISVHJ.r:. 


143 


Arrived  at  Louisville  about  day-dawn,  I  took  a  hack, 
and  ordered  the  hacknian  to  place  the  trunk  on  the  ])orch 
of  the  front  entranci'  of  the  jailor's  residence.  As  tlie  col- 
onel's wife  answered  the  door-hell,  I  incjuired  for  Colonel 
Buckner.  .She  ste])p(Hl  hack  to  call  him,  when  in  an  un- 
dertone I  heard,  "Who  is  it?"  "I  don't  know;  she 
came  in  the  hack  and  is  genteelly  dressed,  and  I  think 
came  from  the  boat." 

He  "genteelly"  met  me,  took  Captain  ]);irker's  letter 
of  introduction,  and  then  introduced  me  to  his  wife  and 
daughter,  and  to  his  wife's  sister  from  lioston,  who  was 
there  on  a  visit  \vith  lier  daughter,  making  quite  a  lively 
social  circle.  My  errand  was  immediately  made  known, 
and  the  colonel  excused  himself  for  overhauling  the  trunk 
to  take  its  contents  to  Calvin  at  once,  as  it  was  in  the  lino 
of  liis  duty  as  keeper  of  the  prison  to  examine  every  thing 
brought  in  for  prisoners;  not  that  he  expected  to  find  any- 
thing improper  for  Fairbanks  to  receive.  I  told  him  I 
designed  returning  to  Cincinnati  on  the  same  boat  I  came 
on,  and  it  was  going  out  at  4  P.  M. 

"  Why  go  so  soon?"  lie  asked. 

I  replied,  "  My  errand  here  is  accomplished,  when  I 
see  that  these  things  are  delivcre<l  to  Calvin  Fairbanks; 
and  as  I  have  a  little  pocket  change,  sent  by  his  friends  in 
Cincinnati,  I  would  like  to  see  Calvin,  as  I  shall  write  his 
mother  after  my  return." 

"I  will  see  if  the  .sheriff  thiid-cs  it  In'st.  There  was 
a  great  excitement  in  the  city  when  Fairbanks  was  arrested 
and  brought  here,  and  Shotwell,  the  injured  man  wh(j  lost 
his  servant  Tamor  and  her  chihl,  is  very  much  cnragecl, 
and  l)eing  a  man  of  wealth  and  influence  here,  I  dan;  not 
take  you  in  to  see  Fairlianks  on  my  own  responsibility  ; 
but  I  '11  see  the  sheriff,  and  if  he  .says  you  can  see  him  it 
is  all  right." 

With  a  little  note  from  me  he  took  the  trunk  of  things 
to  Calvin,  and  brought  back  a  receipt.     As  he  handed  il 


m 


♦ 


fllr  :  ' 


Ci^' 


■  i    )l 


i'ff 


144 


«..' 


A   "WOMAN'S    I.IFE-WOilK. 


to  mc   he  sakl,  *'I  suppose  you  will   recoguizc  his  hand- 
writing, so  you  '11  know  it's  from  him?" 

I  replied  that  I  had  seen  a  note  of  his  writing,  hut 
was  not  familiarly  acquainted  with  it,  hut  was  perfectly 
satisfied  with  the  receipt. 

lie  said  he  had  heeu  to  sec  the  sheriff,  hut  he  was  ah- 
sent,  and  would  not  return  for  two  or  three  days,  "and  I 
think  you  had  hetter  wait,"  he  continued,  "and  see  him, 
as  you  can  remain  with  us;  it  shall  not  cost  you  a  cent." 

I  told  him  my  friends  in  Cincinnati  would  he  at  the 
wharf  to  meet  me  the  following  morning ;  and  as  I  had 
nothing  further  to  accomplish,  being  satisfied  that  the 
things  and  money  had  been  received  by  Calvin  Fairbanks, 
I  felt  free  to  return."     But  he  urged  still  harder. 

"  It  will  be  too  bad  for  you  to  return  witiiout  seeing 
him,  as  you  arc  the  only  friend  that  has  called  to  see  him 
since  he  has  been  here ;  and  I  know  he  wants  to  see  you, 
for  he  asked  if  you  were  not  coming  in  to  see  him,  and  I 
told  him  I  was  Avaiting  to  see  the  sheriff;  and  I  think  you 
had  better  wait  till  the  boat  makes  another  trip,  as  your 
stay  here  is  as  free  as  air,  and  we  would  like  you  to  stop 
over;  then  you  can  see  the  shcriflf,  and  I  reckon  he  will 
not  object  to  your  going  in  to  see  Fairbanks,  and  yet  I 
dare  not  take  ycm  in  without  his  approval." 

I  at  length  consented.  They  were  all  very  polite,  and 
I  rested  as  sweetly  that  night  as  if  in  my  own  room  at 
Levi  Coffin's,  or  in  my  own  Michigan  home.  The  next 
day  the  colon.  1  was  very  free  to  talk  of  the  false  ideas  of 
Northern  people  about  slavery ;  si)okc  of  Elizabeth  Mar- 
garet Chandler's  work  on  slavery,  that  I  took  from  their 
center  table ;  said  his  wife's  Boston  friends  sent  it  her,  but 
"it  was  nothing  but  a  pack  of  lies." 

I  told  him  that  she  lived  anrl  died  neighbor  to  me, 
and  I  esteemed  her  as  a  noble  woman. 

"But  she  never  lived  in  the  South,  and  had  no  right 
to  judge  of  their  couditiou  without  the  knowledge  of  it." 


A  SECRET  AGENT. 


145 


I  was  introduced  to  a  young  man  who  he  paid  had  boon 
suffering  a  lew  chiys'  imprisonment  under  false  charges,  but 
on  the  examiualitm,  had  that  day,  was  found  not  guilty. 
As  the  family  withdrew  from  the  ])arl()r,  this  young  man 
seemed  very  anxious  to  deliver  a  secret  message  fruni  Fair- 
banks to  me ;  he  said  he  had  made  a  confidant  of  him,  and 
told  him  to  request  me  to  see  to  forwarding  Tamor's  trunk 
of  valuable  clothing  to  a  place  of  safety.  He  then  told  mo 
the  mark  on  the  trunk,  and  the  place  in  Louisville  where 
it  was  waiting  to  be  forwarded.  I  said  that  I  liad  told  the 
colonel  I  had  no  idea  of  Tamor's  whereabouts,  as  I  had 
supposed  she  was  taken  with  Fairbanks  until  informed  to 
the  contrary;  and  that  I  had  no  business  here  whatever, 
aside  from  bringing  a  few  articles  for  his  ju-esent  relief. 

After  being  absent  awhile,  he  returned  with  a  note  pur- 
porting to  be  from  Calvin,  inquiring  whether  I  had  made 
the  acquaintance  of  persons  therein  named.  I  told  the 
bearer  I  had  not,  and  if  he  saw  Calvin  he  could  tell  him 
so.  He  urged  me  to  send  Fairbanks  a  note,  as  the  colonel 
or  any  one  else  should  know  nothing  of  it ;  but  I  refused, 
becoming  satisfied  that  he  was  more  of  a  dispatch-bearer 
for  the  colonel  than  for  Calvin  Fairbanks.  I  learned  after- 
wards that  this  was  true,  and  that  he  was  released  f<»r  the 
purpose  of  getting  hold  of  additional  evidence  with  which 
to  convict  him,  and  perhaps  convict  myself  also. 

In  the  evening  a  gentleman  of  their  city  made  a  call 
on  the  family,  and  to  him  I  was  introduced.  He  spent  an 
hour  or  two  in  conversation  with  myself  and  the  others. 
The  jailer,  Colonel  Buekncr,  told  me  just  before  I  left  that 
their  city  papers — Louisville  Courier  and  Louisville  Com- 
mercial— inserted  a  notice  to  the  effect  that  '*  Delia  Web- 
ster, from  Cincinnati,  is  here,  and  is  quartered  for  a  few 
days  in  the  city."  This  little  notice  created  much  excite- 
ment; and  as  the  gentleman  alluded  to  knew  Delia  Web- 
ster personally,  the  colonel  brought  him  in  to  make  my 
ac(piaintance  and  report  accordingly.      As  he  passed  out 

13 


w 


'"M 


*■"!   ' 


'  i 


lu 


t   :i 


146 


A  woman's  tjfe-work. 


of  the  parlor,  lie  told  the  e(jlonel  he  might  rest  assured 
that  lady  was  uot  Delia  Webster,  and  tiiey  had  noth- 
ing to  fear  i'njin  tiiis  Cincinnati  lady,  and  he  should 
net  the  cditor.s  right.  All  this  excitement  was  carefully 
kept  from  me,  as  they  wi^^hed  to  keep  me  as  hjug  as  they 
j)0Sf;ibly  could,  hoping  to  glean  some  additional  evidence 
against  Fairbanks,  altliough  the  jailer  told  me  they  had 
suflicient  evidence  to  convict  Fairbanks  for  a  term  of 
twenty-five  or  thirty  years  at  least,  as  this  was  the  second 
olfense,  and  he  had  no  doubt  but  that  he  had  been  guilty 
of  many  others.  The  papers  next  day  came  out  witli  a 
correction,  "  that  it  was  not  Delia  Webster,  but  ]Mrs. 
Ifaviland,  from  Cincinnati;  and,  as  abolitionists  generally 
went  in  pairs,  she  had  better  keep  a  lookout,  or  she,  too, 
would  find  an  a[>artment  in  Colonel  Buckner's  castle." 

Delia  Webster  was  arrested  near  the  time  of  Calvin 
Fairbanks'u  first  arrest,  and  f  )r  the  same  ofl'ense,  and  sen- 
tenced to  the  same  penitentiary,  but  in  six  weeks  Avas 
pardoned. 

The  colonel  was  disj)Osed  to  s[)end  much  time  in  dis- 
eiissing  the  merits,  or  rather  demerits,  of  abolition  princi- 
ples, which  seemed  to  be  a  new  theme  for  this  JNIethodist 
class-leader  and  jailor.     He  said  : 

"  I  want  to  convince  you  that  you  abolitioners  are  all 
wrong,  for  you  go  against  colonization,  and  you  can  't 
deny  it;  and  if  there  was  ever  a  heaven-born  institution 
it  is  colonization." 

"Do  you  claim  that  God  has  conferred  the  jirerogative 
to  a  man  or  set  of  men  to  draw  a  line,  and  say  to  you  or 
me,  '  You  shall  go  the  other  side  of  that  line,  never  to 
return?'" 

•*  O  no,  that  is  a  different  thing.  We  belong  to  a  dif- 
ferent race." 

"  Whatever  privilege  you  claim  for  yourself  or  I  claim 
for  myself,  I  claim  for  every  otlier  human  beiiig  in  tiie 
universe,   of   whatever    nation   or  color.      If  the  colored 


SLAVERY   DISCUSSED. 


147 


he 


ini 


people  rlionse  to  go  to  Africa  I  have  no  word  to  say  against 
their  removal ;  it  is  their  right  and  their  privilege  to  go. 
And  if  they  wi.sh  to  go  to  any  other  part  of  our  world 
they  have  the  same  right  with  me  to  go." 

"O  no,  not  to  Canada;  for  you  have  no  idea  of  the 
trouble  it  makes  us.  We  e.xpend  thou.^ands  of  d(jllar.s  in 
j)reventn)g  our  slaves  from  going  there." 

*'  That  is  the  defect  in  your  policy.  It  is  the  existence 
of  your  system  of  slavery  that  niakes  you  all  this  trouble." 

"As  I  told  you  of  Miss  Chaudler,  so  it  is  with  you, 
because  you  never  lived  in  a  slave  Htatc,  and  know  noth- 
ing of  their  contented  and  happy  conditi(»n.  They  have 
no  care;  if  they  are  sick  the  doctor  is  sent  for,  and  they 
are  as  tenderly  cared  for  as  our  own  children,  and  their 
doctor's  bills  are  paid.  I  know  if  you  would  live  here  a 
few  months  you  'd  sec  these  things  very  differently.  You 
•would  see  our  slaves  marching  out  to  their  work,  singing 
their  songs  and  hynnis  as  merrily  as  if  they  'd  never  had  a 
troubled  thought  in  their  heads.  Here's  my  wife,  born 
and  raised  in  Massachusetts,  antl  now  she  thinks  as  much  of 
our  institution  of  slavery  as  any  of  us  who  are  raised  hen;." 

"  If  your  slaves  arc  so  happy  and  eontentetl,  why  do 
they  make  you  so  much  trouble  in  their  efforts  to  reach 
Canada?" 

"  O,  there's  free  niggers  enough  to  Ix;  stirring  up  the 
devil  in  their  heads;  for  their  notions  are  not  fit  to  mingle 
with  our  servants.  And  there's  tlu;  good  the  colonization 
of  the.«c  free  negroes  is  doing.  I  know  of  one  man  that 
jnanumitted  two  of  his  slaves  on  pur{)ose  to  have  them  go 
to  Africa  as  missionaries;  and  there  is  the  design  of  Prov- 
idence in  bringing  those  heathen  negroes  here  to  learn  the 
Gospel  plan  by  Christ,  to  save  the  dark  and  benighted 
heathen  of  their  own  country.  We  have  reports  from  the 
two  missionaries  that  I  told  you  were  set  free  for  that 
object,  and  their  master  sent  them  off  to  school  a  year  or 
more  to  fit  them  for  their  work." 


m 


■t  •  ii 


umm 


i- 


,!• 


'T 


1  ■■ 


^m;      I 


I'M 


V.i' 


148 


A  woman's  life-work. 


M'        ■]< 


m 


"But  why  not  give  thoin  jill  sin  opportuulty  of  ediica- 
cation,  to  enable  them  to  read  the  Bible  and  hooks  and 
jjapers.  That  would  improve  the  raee  at  home ;  and  in- 
stead of  sending  them  off,  as  you  say,  they  would  he 
lireaehers  here  among  their  people." 

"  I  tell  you  that  would  n't  amount  to  any  thing,  as 
there  arc  but  few  that  can  learn  any  thing  but  work,  and 
that  they  are  made  for.  Their  thick  skulls  show  that  they 
can 't  learn  books ;  and  if  you  knew  as  much  about  them 
us  I  do  you  'd  sec  it  too,  but  you  are  such  an  abolitioner 
you  won't  see  it." 

I  told  him  I  had  soon  colored  people  in  the  Xorth  who 
were  well  educated  and  intelligent. 

"O  yes,  tlierc  arc  a  few  who  can  learn,  but  I  speak 
of  the  race.  Tiuiy  are  different  from  us,  you  kn(»w.  Not 
only  their  skin  is  black  and  hair  curled  and  noses  Hat,  but 
they  stink  .so." 

"But  here  is  your  house-.sorvant,  INIary,  preparing  your 
meals,  setting  in  order  your  j)arlor  and  private  rooms,  and 
waiting  on  the  j)ers()ns  of  your  wife  and  daughter — and  her 
hair  is  as  short  and  .skin  as  black  and  nose  as  flat  as  any 
you'll  find ;  and  yet  this  disagreeable  smell  only  troubles  you 
iu  connection  witii  the  principle  of  freedom  and  liberty." 

"You  are  such  an  abolitioner  there's  no  doing  any  thing 
Avitli  you,"  he  rejoined,  and  left  the  room. 

He  soon  returned,  and  said : 

"There's  another  thing  I  want  to  talk  with  you  about, 
and  that  is  amalgamation.  If  you  carry  out  your  j)rinci- 
ples,  your  (ihildren  would  intermarry  with  negroes ;  and 
liow  would  you  feel  to  sec  your  daughter  marry  a  great 
black  buck  nigger?" 

"That  is  the  least  of  my  troubles  in  this  lower  world," 
said  I.  "But  as  far  as  amalgamation  is  concerned,  you 
have  twenty  cases  of  amalgamation  in  the  South  to  one 
iu  the  North.  I  say  this  fearless  of  contradiction ;  it 
is  a  fruitfid  product  of  slavery.     There  are  hundreds  of 


THE    HIIJLK    AOAINST  SLAVEUY. 


149 


r" 

[ou 

|)I10 

it 
of 


slaves  licld  as  property  by  tlieir  own  fatliers.  Yon  Ml  fiml 
it  wlierevcr  slavery  exists.  You  find  it  here  in  your  own 
city,  Louisville." 

Giving  a  ylirug  of  liis  .shoulders,  he  replied,  "I  will 
a(rkn()wledgo  this  is  a  sorrowful  faet  that  can  not  ho 
denied." 

This  ended  his  talk  on  that  suhjeet. 

After  sup[)er  we  were  all  enjoying  a  .social  chat  heforo 
a  blazing  grate  in  the  dining-room,  and  I  was  silting  near 
the  kitchen  door,  that  was  ajar,  wIhtc  were  their  slaves  iu 
hearing.  In  their  presence  I  had  avoided  answering  sotno 
of  his  questions,  hut  now  a  question  was  put  within  their 
hearing,  which  .seemed  to  demand  a  square  reply,  and 
I  gave  it. 

"I  would  like  to  know,  Mrs.  Ilaviland,  where  you  aho- 
litioners  get  your  principles  of  equal  rights.  1  'd  like  to 
know  where  you  find  them." 

"  We  find  them  between  the  lids  of  the  Bible.  ( Jod 
created  man  in  his  own  image — in  his  own  likeness.  From 
a  single  pair  sprang  all  the  iidial)itants  of  the  whole  earth. 
God  created  of  one  blood  all  the  nations  tliat  dwell  uj)on  the 
Avhole  earth  ;  and  when  the  Savior  left  his  abode  with  the 
Father,  to  dwell  a  season  upon  our  earthly  ball,  to  HuH'cr 
and  die  the  ignominious  death  of  the  cross,  he  shed  his 
precious  blood  for  the  whole  human  I'amily,  irrrespective  of 
luition  or  color.  We  believe  all  are  alike  ol)j(!cts  of  re- 
deeming love.  AVe  believe  our  Heavenly  Father  gave  tho 
power  of  choice  to  beings  he  created  for  his  own  glory; 
and  this  power  to  choose  or  refuse  good  or  evil  is  ti  truth 
co-existent  with  man's  creation.  This,  at  least,  is  my  firm 
conviction." 

No  reply  was  made,  but,  at  his  suggestion,  we  r('j)air('d 
to  the  parlor,  where  other  conversation  was  introduced,  Init 
110  reference  made  to  Bible  arguments. 

During  the  time  of  waiting  to  see  the  sheriff  the  jail- 
ers's  wife  frequently  spent  an  hour  or  two  in  social  con- 


Wi 


I 
r 

r 


H 


1 


I 


f*      I 


u    • 


150 


A    WOMAN  S   MFK-WORK. 


tt 


vcrsfttion.     Pho  said  thcv  never  l)()ii<'ht  or  sokl  u  slave  but 
at  tlic  earliest  solicitation  of  tlie  slave. 

"Our  i)lack  Mary  was  cue  of  the  most  pitiable  objects 
you  ever  saw.  Hlie  was  treated  shainefuily,  and  was  put 
here  in  jail,  where  she  lay  three  months,  and  was  so  sick 
and  thin  there  would  n't  any  body  buy  her.  I  fill  .so  sorry 
for  her  I  used  to  take  her  something  she  could  eat,  and  1 
luid  her  clothes  changed  and  washe<l,  (-r  I  reck(  n  she 
would  have  died.  IShc  begged  me  to  buy  her,  and  I  told 
IMr,  Buckner  that  if  she  was  treated  half  decent  I  be- 
lieved she  would  get  well.  So  I  bought  her  and  paid  only 
four  hundred  dollars;  and  now  you  see  she  looks  hale  an<l 
lieartv,  and  I  wouldn't  take  double  that  for  her.  But 
there  is  jjoor  blai'k  Hally,  just  four  weeks  ago  today  she 
was  .sold  to  go  down  the  river  in  a  gang ;  and  I  never  saw 
any  jKtor  thing  so  near  crazy  as  she  was.  She  was  sold 
away  I'rom  her  seven  children.  As  I  heard  her  screams  I 
threw  my  bonnet  and  shawl  on  and  followed  her  to  the  river, 
and  she  threw  herself  down  on  her  face  and  poured  out  her 
Avhole  soul  to  God  to  relieve  her  great  distress,  and  save 
her  poor  children.  Oh  how  .she  cried  and  prayed.  I  tell 
you  no  heart,  not  made  of  stone,  could  witness  that  scene 
and  not  melt.  i\Iany  shed  tears  over  poor  Sally's  prayer. 
A  man  standing  by  went  to  the  trader  and  bought  her,  and 
went  and  told  her  that  he  lived  only  eight  miles  away,  and 
had  bought  her,  and  she  should  come  and  see  her  children 
occasionally.  She  thanked  him  as  he  heli)ed  her  to  stand 
np,  for  she  .seemed  weak.  But  in  just  two  weeks  from 
that  day  she  died,  and  the  doctors  examined  her,  and  said 
she  died  of  a  l)r(tken  heart.  They  .«aid  there  was  no  dis- 
ease about  her,  but  that  she  seemed  to  sink  fn)m  that  day. 
growing  weaker  and  weaker  until  she  died.  That  was  just 
two  weeks  ago  to-day." 

Her  eyes  frequently  filled  witli  tears  as  she  related  this 
sad  incident,  and  yet  she  could  cheerfully  say,  "Oh,  Mrs. 
Huvilaud,  go  with  me  into  the  kitchen  to  see  ray  nigger 


adams'h  jack. 


151 


baby."  As  wo  Piitorod  the  kitclion  tliorc  stood  lli(>  inotlior 
by  her  fat,  hui<^'hiiig  biihy,  bolstered  up  in  hi:)  nuU'  cnidlo 
of  rouglj  boards.  "Tliere,  isn't  that  a  fine  boy?  he's 
Avortli  one  hundred  dolhirs.  I  eould  get  that  to-(hiy  for 
liim,  and   he's  only  eight   inonlhs  old;    isn't  he  bright?'' 

"  He  is  certainly  a  bright  little  i'ellow." 

As  I  looked  at  the  mother  I  saw  the  downcast  look, 
and  noticed  the  sigli  tiiat  escaped  a  heavy  h(  art,  as  she  lis- 
tened to  the  claim  and  i)rice  sot  ujjon  her  little  darling. 
It's  mother,  Mary,  was  ebony  l»lack,  her  child  was  a  light 
mulatto,  which  was  in  keejting  with  the  story  of  abuse  to 
which  she  was  compelled  to  submit,  or  else  lay  in  jail. 

During  the  afternoon  of  Friday  a  ^Tr.  Adams,  from 
Houth  Carolina,  came  to  recognize  and  take  his  slave  Jack. 
Sai<l  the  colonel:  "He  was  decoyi-d  Ijy  iin  abolitioner,  and 
now  you  can  see  what  your  j)riii(iples  lead  to.  There's 
Jack  in  the  yard"  (pointing  toward  the  man).  "  His  master 
luis  just  been  in  jail  with  me  and  talked  with  Jack,  and  I  let 
him  out,  and  he's  going  around  town  with  him  to  see  if  he 
can  get  his  eye  on  the  rogue  that  enticed  him  away.  You 
sec  lie's  a  great,  stout,  smart-looking  fellow,  and  the  rascal 
got  sight  at  him,  and  saw  him  alone,  and  asked  him  if  ho 
would  n't  like  to  be  free,  and  be  his  own  m.^ster.  lie  said  ho 
would.  '  Then  meet  me  at  eleven  o'clock  by  that  big 
tree  near  the  road  yonder,  and  I'll"  take  you  with  me  to 
Canada,  where  you'll  be  a  free  man.'  Jack  met  him  at 
the  ])lace  ajipointed,  and  they  went  on  till  daylight,  then 
li'^       "  it,  and   traveled  on.     'Now,'  said  this  aboli- 

you  will  let  mc  sell  you  in  this  little  town 
I,  1  i»e  around  here  till  near  night,  then  I'll  go  on 
to  .e  next  tavern  (or  I'll  tell  them  so),  but  I'll  st(ip  in  a 
liille  wood  this  side,  and  wait  f  >r  you  till  eleven  or  twelve 
o clock,  and  you  cati  meet  me,  and  I'll  give  you  half  I  get 
for  you,  then  we'll  ravel  all  night  again,  when  we'll  be 
out  of  reach  of  thei'  inting  for  you.  Then  we  can  travel  by 
day-time,  as  you  call  me  master,  and  I'll  call  you  my 


I 


^  •■•• ' 


11 


152 


A   woman's   LIFK-WORIv. 


y 


m 


body-servant.'  Jack  was  now  fairly  in  lii.s  hands,  and  did 
a.s  he  directed.  As  he  had  divided  tlic  money  witli  Jack 
lie  had  conlldenee  in  this  mean  fellow,  and  thouj^dit  lie 
would  take  liim  on  to  Canada,  lie  met  him  aceordiiij^  (o 
the  plan,  and,  after  travelinj^  all  night  again,  another 
jirojxjsition  wa.s  made  to  si'll  him  again,  and  ho  would  again 
divide  and  give  him  half,  wliicli  now  amounted  to  a  large 
sum  for  Jack.  liiit  this  was  not  the  end  of  sales ;  for 
lie  played  the  same  game  over  and  over,  until  they 
reached  this  city,  when  Jack  was  caught  and  put  in  jail. 
After  he'd  been  here  three  days  he  told  mc  all  about  it, 
and  I  took  the  money  and  wrote  to  ]\Ir.  Adams  to  come 
and  get  him.  By  the  time  that  abolitioner  got  here  he  had 
sold  Jack  seven  times,  and  divided  with  him  every  time. 
^o,  you  see,  that  is  just  the  fruit  of  your  principles." 

I  patiently  waited  until  he  finished  his  story,  with  its 
charges,  when  it  was  my  time. 

"  Colonel  Buckner,  I  do  not  ackrowlcdgo  this  to  i)e 
the  work  of  an  abolitionist.  This  wus  a  selfish,  unprin- 
cipled man  ;  he  was  making  himself  rich,  and  ])robably 
was  taking  Jack  down  the  river,  and  would  have  kept  on 
pclling  him,  and  dividing,  until  he  W(  uld  have  sold  him 
for  the  last  time,  and  then  have  taken  from  Jack  all  the 
nifMiey  he  had  given  him  from  these  c'andestinc  sales.  I 
have  no  word  of  sanction  to  give  to  work  like  this;  I 
should  say  his  })lace  was  here  in  jail  instead  of  Jack.  If 
Jack  had  come  to  us  hungry  and  naked,  we  should  huve 
fed  and  clothed  him  ;  and  if  sick  with  fatigue  and  foot- 
sore, we  should  have  given  him  a  ride  toward  Canada,  if 
lie  wished  to  go  there;  but  as  f)r  this  maa,  I  will  not  own 
him  as  an  abolitionist.     I  rcpuditite  his  work  altogether." 

"Oh,  yes,  he  told  Jack  he  was  an  abolitioner." 

"  Then  he  was  a  hypocrite.  I  ^Yant  to  suppose  a  case 
for  you  to  consider.  Perhaps  a  fine  appearing  man  comes 
into  your  city,  attends  your  Methodist  meetings,  and  calls 
himself  a  Methodist,     lie  siH?ak3  well  in  your  class  meet- 


' 


SUProSIXG    A    CASK. 


153 


iugs,  speaks,  prays,  and  sings  iu  y^ur  prayor-mcotings,  aiul 
you  become  very  favorably  impressed  witii  him  as  a  Chris- 
tian, lie  engages,  perliaps,  as  elerk  or  bookkeeper  in  one 
of  your  large  business  houses  across  the  street,  and  during 
three  or  six  months  appears  so  candid  and  punctual  iu  all 
business  transactions,  that  they  confide  to  his  care  impor- 
tant business.  But  the  opportunity  arrives  wiien  he  takes 
advantage  of  this  confidence,  and  forges  a  draft  of  S3, 000, 
and  it  is  cashed,  and  he  is  off,  never  to  be  heard  from  again. 
Now  as  you  learn  of  tliis  dark  deed,  you  have  no  idea  of 
acknowledging  that  man  as  a  Christian  l)rother,  have  you?" 

"Oh,  no,  certainly  not;  we  expect  and  know  there  are 
by  j)oe  rites." 

"►So  do  we  expect  hypocrites  in  our  abolition  ranks; 
but  because  of  counterfeit  money  wc  would  not  reject  tho 
true  coin." 

In  the  evening  I  was  introduced  to  ^Mr.  Adams,  of  Soutli 
Carolina,  with  whom  we  all  seemed  to  enjoy  free  and  easy 
conversation.  lie  was  quite  pleased  to  find  his  servant 
Ju'-k,  and  a  secret  thought  stole  over  n\c  that  he  was  also 
plet'sod  to  get  with  him  two  or  three  times  his  value  in  gold. 

Sabbath  morning  Ben  Franklin  No.  2  packet  came  hi, 
and  I  prepared  to  go  to  the  boat,  as  the  jailor  said  the 
sheriir  had  not  yet  returned  from  the  country.  Said  tho 
jailor: 

"I  don't  like  to  have  you  leave  without  seeing  Fair- 
banks, as  you  are  the  only  friend  who  has  called  on  hi  in. 
I  have  a  great  mind  to  assume  the  responsibility  of  just  tak- 
ing you  into  the  jail  a  few  minutes  before  you  go." 

"  I  would  thaidi  you  very  kindly,"  I  said,  "  if  you  think 
it  prudent;  ])ut  if  not,  I  shall  not  urge  you  in  the;  least." 

"  r  reckon  there  can  be  no  harm  done.  Come  on,  we'll 
go,"  and  I  followed  hi.  into  the  jail,  and  he  called  for 
Fairbanks. 

I  met  him  under  circumstance^^  that  had  caused  such 
bitter  j)rejudiccs  against  him  that  there  was  no  shadow  of 


'  \\ 


li'^li'^" 


i  'I 


ij   ^ 


I 


411 


154 


A  avoman's  life-work. 


])robiibility  that  any  thing  like  justice  would  be  shown  him. 
Besides,  there  were  ibrty  sad  faces  before  me,  of  persons 
who,  the  jailer  told  me,  had  committed  no  crime,  but  were 
j)laced  there  for  Kofe  keeping,  as  they  had  becu  purchased  in 
diifereut  places  for  the  lower  market.  A  gang  was  being 
prepared  by  a  trader,  and  these  were  all  shades,  from  the 
ebony  black  to  those  with  fair  skin,  straight  hair,  and  blue 
eyes,  with  hardly  a  vestige  of  African  descent.  With  this 
scene  before  me,  I  could  not  restrain  tears,  neither  were 
Calvin's  eyes  dry.  As  he  held  my  hand  in  both  of  his,  he 
said  : 

"  Let  us  keep  good  courage.  I  think  I  shall  bo  released 
after  my  trial.  I  want  you  to  gee  my  lawyer,  Mr.  Thrus- 
ton  ;  he  says  he  will  take  my  case  through  for  six  hundred 
dollars." 

I  told  him  I  had  no  power  to  indemnify  a  lawyer.  And 
after  I  received  his  note  urging  me  to  see  him,  I  sent  a  note 
back  by  the  keeper  to  tliat  effect. 

"  But  if  you  can  see  him,  he  may  fall  in  his  price  two 
hundred  or  three  hundred  dollars.  Do  n't  leave  without 
seeing  him." 

I  told  him  I  would  have  seen  him  if  he  had  been  in 
town  on  receiving  his  note,  and  yet  I  could  see  no  import- 
ant ])enefit  in  securing  an  interview  with  the  lawyer,  as 
his  figures,  unless  greatly  reduced,  were  beyond  our  reach 
in  Cincimiati. 

"  Perhaps  he  may  reduce  them  if  you  see  him." 

With  these  beseecliing  words,  with  tearful  eyes  that 
brought  tears  to  the  eyes  of  the  colonel  as  v.ell,  the  colo- 
nel said  at  once: 

"  I  think  you  ought  to  comply  with  Fairbanks's  reipKst, 
and  stay  over  one  more  trip.  You  can  stop  with  us  and 
be  welcome.  If  you  choose  to  call  on  Dr.  Field,  as  Fair- 
banks has  suggested,  you  can  do  so;  but  I  reckon  it's  yinir 
duty  to  see  his  lawyer." 

Dr.  Field  was  a  practical  abolitionist.     Like  Dr.  Bria- 


INTERVIEW   WITH    FAIUHANK8. 


15-5 


bane  and  Janios  G.  Birucy,  he  emancipated  his  own  slaves, 
and  left  Louisville  on  account  of  slavery,  and  made  a  home 
in  Jelfersonville,  on  tlie  Indiana  side  of  the  river. 

As  it  was  now  ten  minutes,  double  the  time  suggested 
hy  the  jailer  while  we  were  on  our  way  to  the  jail,  I  turned 
to  the  keeper,  and  told  him  as  my  interview  was  prolonged 
l)eyond  its  limit,  I  would  go ;  and  on  taking  leave  of  Cal- 
vin he  pointed  to  four  men  standing  a  few  feet  from  him, 
and  said,  "  Do  you  know  those  men?" 

I  looked  up  and  nodded  to  them  a  recognition.  They 
■were  fugitives  who  had  been  recaptured  by  virtue  of  the 
fugitive  slave  law  passed  in  1850,  some  of  whom  had  made 
their  escape  Aoni  slaverv  manv  vears  before.  One,  whose 
name  was  Baker,  with  whom  I  was  well  acquainted,  had 
hair  straighter  and  skin  fairer  than  very  many  of  our 
Anglo-Saxon  race.  These  four  answered  to  the  nod,  stnil- 
ing  through  their  tears.  They  had  enjoyed  a  taste  of  free- 
dom, and  now  w(M"e  to  he  hurled  back  to  a  dark  life  of 
bondage  more  l)itf<T  to  them  than  over  before.  But  not  a 
word  could  I  utter  to  them.  The  slight  bou,  as  I  was 
turning  away,  was  all ;  and  yet  that  was  sufficit>nt  to  set 
on  fire  a  world  of  iniquity  in  the  four  officers  in  front  of 
the  irou  grates  through  which  we  conversed  -with  Calvin 
Fairl)atd<s.  These  officers  beckoned  to  the  jailer  as  we 
were  passing  through  to  the  outfr  gate,  and  upon  his  oj)en- 
ing  it,  he  said,  "  Will  you  please  pass  through  the  yard 
Into  our  ajiartments  alone?" 

**  Certaiidy,"  I  responded  ;  and  turning  to  mo,  ho  re- 
marked, "Those  officers  beckoned  to  s<m>  me  a  moment." 

I  drew  my  arm  from  his,  that  he  had  so  p.ililely  tm- 
drfed  in  going  to  autl  from  Calvin.  In  passing  thn»ugh 
the  yard  I  met  their  slave  nnin,  who  said,  in  a  low  tone, 
"Did  ytm  s( "  Fairbanks?" 

I  answered,  in  a  like  tone,  "  I  did." 

"  Glory!"  he  cried,  just  loud  enough  for  mc  to  hear. 

Near  the  door  I  was  met  by  Mary,  who  saitl  but  little 


m 


t'^^ 


■(  1 


fi 

"T" 

H 

'     1 

1 

i   !     ■ 

1  >* 

'■.., 

1 

i 

: 

i^ 


ir 


lOG 


A  woman's  life-work. 


above  a  whisper,  "Did  you  poe  liini?"     As  I  gave  a  nod, 
she  said,  "Good,  good!"  clapping  lior  hands  for  joy. 

I  waited  in  the  paHor  for  tlie  return  of  the  jailer,  as 
he  had  said  lie  would  go  to  the  river  with  me.  He  soon 
came  in,  j)ale  and  trembling  with  excitement. 

"  Mrs.  Ilaviland,  those  officers  arc  all  boiling  over  with 
excitement.  They  wanted  to  know  if  I  did  n't  see  how 
just  the  sight  of  you  was  like  an  electric  shock  all  over 
that  crowd  of  slaves.  '  Did  n't  you  sec  those  four  runa- 
ways cry  at  the  sight  of  her?'  said  one  of  the  officers.  I 
told  them  my  attention  was  all  taken  up  with  your  con- 
versation with  Fairbanks,  and  noticed  nothing  of  others. 
They  say  it  is  very  evident  that  you  are  a  dangerous  per- 
son, and  deserve  to  be  here  in  this  jail  just  as  much  as 
Fairbanks,  and  they  are  for  arresting  you  at  once;  and  I 
don't  know,  Mrs.  Ilaviland,  that  it  will  be  in  my  ])ower 
to  protect  you.  There  have  been  threats  in  the  pajHrs 
every  day  since  you  've  been  here ;  and  Rhotwell  has  had 
his  officers  out  hunting  in  every  hotel  for  you;  but  we 
liave  kept  it  carefidly  from  the  i)ublic  tl  at  you  were  with 
me,  until  now  these  officers  are  determined  to  arrest  you." 

Paid  I:  "Colonel  Buckner,  should  your  officers  come 
in  this  moment  I  have  nothing  to  fear.  The  God  of 
Daniel  is  here  at  this  hour.  Should  I  be  arrested,  vou 
would  n't  keep  me  in  your  jail  three  days*.  I  have  no  more 
fear  than  if  I  were  in  my  own  room  in  C'incinnati." 

His  trembling  voice  became  quiet;  and  more  calmly 
he  said : 

""Well,  it  is  a  glorious  thing  to  feel  like  y:.  do;  but 
I  reckon  you  'd  better  go  over  the  river  to  Dr.  Field's, 
and  when  Mr.  Thrustou  comes  into  the  ( ily  I'll  send  him 
over  to  see  you.  I  advise  you  not  to  set  foot  on  the  Ken- 
tucky shore  again,  as  I  know  it  will  not  be  safe.  There  is 
this  morning  a  great  excitement  all  over  town  about  you. 
8o  one  of  the  officers  told  me.  But  I'll  go  to  the  river 
with  you  right  soon." 


VISIT   TO    DR.    FIELD. 


157 


We  started  fur  the  door,  when  he  Imlted :  "  I  do  n't 
thiiik  I  had  better  go  with  you  now,  as  these  offieers  may 
eonie  out  and  make  troul»k>,  and  I  reekon  you  'd  be  safer 
ak)ne." 

"  Very  well,  I  have  no  hesitancy  whatever  in  goinj^ 
alone;"  and  I  bade  him  "good-bye." 

As  I  was  o}>ening  the  door  he  reached  his  hand  to  re- 
turn the  "Good-bye — God  bless  you!"  and  I  left  the  jail 
and  jailer. 

I  passed  a  large  hotel,  with  perhaps  fifteen  or  twenty 
men  standing  on  the  sidewalk  in  front.  All  seemed  in  a 
perfect  buzz  of  excitement.  When  I  saw  this  con):)any 
of  men,  the  first  thought  was  to  pass  over  on  the  other  side. 
"  But  I  will  neitiier  turn  to  the  right  nor  the  left,  but  pass 
through  their  midst,"  was  an  impression  that  I  followed; 
and  so  busily  engaged  were  they  in  their  excited  conver- 
sation that  they  hardly  looked  to  see  the  little  passer-by, 
the  subject  of  their  thoughts  and  words.     Said  one: 

*'  Great  excitement  in  town  to-day." 

"Yes,  sir;  you  can  see  a  group  of  men  at  every  street 
corner." 

I  smiled  to  myself,  as  I  thought, "  Little  do  you  think  this 
is  the  little  old  woman  you  are  troubling  your.«elves  over." 

1  soon  was  in  Jeflersonville  incpiiring  for  Dr.  Field's 
residence,  and  was  shown  the  house  across  the  street,  and 
upon  its  front  j)orch  stood  a  little  group — the  doctor  and 
fanuly,  with  two  nnnisters — watching  me;  and  as  I  opened 
the  gate  and  in(piired  if  this  was  Dr.  Field's  residence : 

•'  Yes,  I  am  the  Jason,"  .'^aid  the  doctor.  "  W<'  \c  l)een 
l>oking  for  you,  Mrs.  Ilaviland,  every  day  since  you  'vo 
Ikhmi  in  Louisville." 

This  was  an  unexpected  salutation,  and  I  felt  at  home 
again  as  I  clasped  their  warm  hands  of  friendship. 

"  How  is  it  that  you  have  knowletlge  of  me?" 

•'Just  walk  in,  and  I'll  show  you  the  papers;  haven't 


4 


you 


seen  them 


h  I' 

i 


:4  '\ 


I  I 


-il! 


t 


I  ili 


158 


A  woman's  mfe-work. 


I  told  him  I  had  not,  and  know  nothing  of  it  until 
just  as  1  was  leaving;  the  jailer  told  mc  there  had  beeu 
threats  in  the  daily  papers  to  arrest  nie.  When  I  read 
these  little  scurrilous  articles,  calculated  to  inflame  an  al- 
ready inflamed  public,  I  wondered,  as  well  as  the  doctor, 
that  they  had  not  found  my  whereabouts  and  made  trouble. 
I  hoped  my  Cincinnati  friends  had  not  seen  this,  as  I  had 
written  them  the  reason  of  my  delay,  and  sent  the  letter 
by  the  same  boat  that  brought  me  to  Louisville.  I  enjoyed 
sweet  rest  with  these  Christian  friends,  and  attended  with 
them  their  afternoon  meeting.  The  minister  who  preached 
■was  as  earnest  an  abolitionist  as  the  doctor,  and  brother 
Proctor  preached  as  radical  an  abolition  sermon  as  I  ever 
listened  to ;  it  seemed  like  an  oasis  in  a  desert. 

The  day  foHowing  I  sent  a  note  to  Lawyer  Thruston's 
office,  and  received  in  rei)ly  the  statement  that  his  illness 
had  prevented  his  leaving  his  room  during  two  weeks  j)ast, 
and  urged  me  to  come  and  see  him  without  delay,  and  he 
would  stand  between  mc  and  all  harm.  Tiie  doctor  said, 
as  he  was  a  lawyer  of  influence  in  their  city,  he  advised 
me  to  go;  and  as  it  was  snowing  a  little,  he  gave  me  an 
umbrella,  with  which  I  might  screen  my.sclf  while  pa.ssing 
the  jail,  as  well  as  be  sheltered  from  the  snow.  I  found 
the  lawyer  very  affable  in  his  manners,  and  he  said  they 
would  do  the  best  they  could  for  Fairbanks,  and  we  might 
pay  what  we  could.  I  returned  without  difficulty  to  our 
*'  Jason." 

I  wrote  a  little  article  under  the  caption  of  "Correc- 
tion," and  sent  it  to  both  the  Comninriid  and  Louisville 
Courier.     It  was  insertetl,  with  the  f»llowing  editorial  note: 

"  Notwithstanding  the  pretended  laudability  of  her  er- 
rand to  our  city,  we  arc  still  .satisfied  it  was  out  of  no  good 
motive,  as  birds  of  a  feather  will  flock  together." 

Most  assuredly  I  was  thankful  to  see  the  return  of 
"  Ben  Franklin,  No.  2,"  which  took  me  from  that  nest  of 
unclean   birds   to  those  of  more  congenial   and  harmlcsa 


ON   THE   RTKAMHOAT. 


159 


habits.  My  anxious  fri(>ncls  in  C'incinnnti  Lad  not  received 
either  of  my  letters,  and  had  read  only  these  threatening 
cards  iu  the  Cineiuuali  Coinmnrial ,  copied  iVonj  Louisville 
dailies,  that  caused  great  anxiety.  1  sent  a  letter  by  both 
tri})s  that  this  boat  made  durinj^  the  week  I  was  in  Louis- 
ville, and  Colonel  Buckner  took  both  anil  said  he  would 
sec  them  delivered  at  the  boat. 

While  on  the  boat  a  gentleman  and  his  wife  among 
the  passengers  were  returning  to  their  Eastern  home,  with 
whom  I  formed  a  pleasant  ae(|uaintance.  Among  otlu  r 
topics  of  discussion  was  the  value  of  hygiene  and  hydro- 
pathy, in  which  a  Louisville  physician  joined,  narrating 
his  observations  of  the  system  during  a  practice  of  fifteen 
years  iu  Louisville.  As  he  seemed  to  be  an  intelligt  nt 
and  social  gentleman,  we  all  seemed  to  enjoy  our  new 
acijuaintances.  I  remarked  to  him  that  there  sfcmed  to 
exist  quite  an  excitement  iu  his  city  during  the  week  past, 
over  an  old  lady  who  took  a  few  articles  of  uuder-clothes 
and  a  (piilt  or  t.vo  to  Fairbanks. 

**0,  yes;  were  you  in  the  city?" 

*'I  was,  and  was  surprised  at  the  excitement  produced 
by  her  presence." 

"Well,  I  suppose  Shotwcll  did  make  a  great  stir  over 
liis  loss  of  a  house-servant.  I  understand  he  sp<'nt  threo 
lunulred  dollars  in  his  effort  to  find  that  woman,  as  he 
tiiought  she  knew  where  his  slave  was.  I  have  forgotten 
lier  name." 

"Mrs.  TIaviland,  from  Cincimiati,  was  the  one  threat- 
ened in  your  dailies,"  I  rej)lied. 

"Oh,  yes,  that  was  the  name.  I  heard  you  say  you  are 
going  to  Cincinnati ;  do  you  know  any  thing  of  that  lady?" 

"I  do;  I  have  been  ac(puiinted  with  her  from  child- 

"You  have!     What  sort  of  a  lady  is  she?" 
"Vrdl,  if  you  should   see  her,  you   wouldn't   think   it 
worth  while  to  raise  all  this  breeze  over  her,  or  any  thing 


1    fl' 

i': 

■1 

ii 

if    t 

■» 


)»' 


f 

r 

IGO 


A    woman's   I-IFE-WORK. 


bIic  could  <lo.  She  is  a  little,  iiisigiiillcunt  lookiii;^  >V()man, 
anyhow ;  and  yvt  1  think  «>ho  U  cunseiiintious  in  what 
she  docs." 

"There  Avould  n't  have  heon  such  a  stir  hut  for  Mv. 
Shotwell,  who  felt  himself  wronged  in  the  loss  of  his  house 
servant." 

"But  he  is  considered  one  of  your  most  influential  citi- 
zens, I  am  told." 

"Yes,  madam;  I  reckon  we'll  have  to  excuse  him,  for 
he  is  quite  nervous  and  angry  over  Fairbanks." 

Aflcsr  (juite  a  lengthy  conversation  on  this  subject,  my 
new  lady  friend,  to  whom  I  had  related  a  portion  of  my 
Louisville  exi>erience,  was  waiting  for  an  opportunity  to 
l)ut  a  joke  on  the  Louisville  doctor,  and  called  me  by 
name.     At  this  the  astonished  doctor  said : 

"I  reckon  this  is  not  INIrs.  Ilaviland,  is  it?" 

"That  is  the  name  by  which  I  am  called." 

"Is  this  indeed  the  lady  we've  Ixien  talking  al)out, 
and  of  whose  ai)pearance  you  gave  such  a  brilliant 
description?"  And  he  laughed  heartily.  "Well,  well, 
i\Irs.  Ilaviland,  don't  judge  our  city  l)y  this  little  Hin-ry  of 
excitement ;  for  we  have  good,  substantial  people  in  our 
town,  and  I  hope  you'll  visit  our  city  again  sometime,  and 
you'll  find  it's  true.  I  reckon  if  those  excited  men  had 
arrested  yon,  there  woukl  have  rallied  to  your  aid  a  differ- 
ent class  of  men ;  ibr  your  errand  was  jKM'fectly  proper, 
and  you  would  have  been  borne  out  in  it,  ttx),  by  the  more 
sensible  peoi)le  of  our  city." 

IJut  my  Cincinnati  friends  were  not  so  confident  of  my 
safety.  Said  Levi  Coffin,  as  I  met  him,  "Dr.  Brisbane 
has  .said  it  was  most  likely  that  we  should  find  thee  in 
l)ri.son  ;  and  our  friend,  James  G.  Birney,  is  also  very 
much  discouraged,  and  said  he  was  sorry  thou  went  at  this 
time  of  excitement,  of  both  North  and  South,  over  the 
lyiudiing  of  Williams  near  Baltimore,  the  binding  of  Conklin 
and  throwing  him  into  the  river,  and  now  the  illegal  capture 


FOt  RTKKN    SLAVKS    KSCAI'i:. 


101 


of  Ciilviii  Fairbanks  in  Iiidiaiia,  and  takiiii^  lilni  ovi-r  into 
Kentucky  and  lod^lnj^  liini  in  jail  tlKie.  l>ui  tlu'V  havo 
no  regard  or  n'siuct  for  law.  A.s  wo  knrw  all  thi.s,  wo 
liavo  all  Ikv'U  cxcccdiugly  anxious  for  thy  .siffty." 

It  was  a  season  of  rejoicing  with  us  all  that  our  suf- 
fering hrothcr  in  prisou  had  received  present  relief;  and 
no  threats  were  i)Ut  iu  execution  in  regard  to  myself.  I 
realized  an  answer  to  prayer  before  1  left  inr  that  prixm, 
and  not  a  moment  while  in  Louisville  diil  1  in  the  lea.-L 
doubt  the  keeping  |X)wer  to  be  .strongiT  than  the  power  of 
darkness.  Our  friend,  James  (j.  IJirni'y,  being  ieeblt;  in 
health,  sent  ibr  me  to  spend  ii  day  in  his  family;  and  a 
rich  feast  1  enjoyed  in  listening  to  the  experience  of  that 
nnble  Christian  num.  Worthy  was  he  to  have  j)resided 
over  our  nation. 

Excitement  does  not  cease,  though  the  base  is  changed. 
Tidings  came  to  us  that  fourteen  newly-arrivi-d  fugitivi'S 
were  housed  in  the  basement  of  Zion  JJaptist  Church.  I 
repaired  at  once  to  see  what  wius  needed  for  their  journey, 
and  ft)und  a  very  sick  babe,  two  months  old.  The  mother 
said  it  was  very  sick  belbrc  they  left,  and  she  did  not 
expect  it  to  live,  but  their  arrangements  were  mailc  to  go 
Ibr  freedom,  and  she  would  rather  bury  her  child  on  the 
way  than  to  slay  behind  till  it  left  her.  It  died  that 
night,  and  they  were  provided  with  a  respectable  collin,  and 
the  comi)any,  with  others,  formed  a  funeral  jtn (cession  to 
the  burying-gn)und.  After  the  l)urial  the  thirteen  fugi- 
tives were  taken  to  the  Quaker  settlement,  twenty-iivo 
miles  distant,  atid  from  thence  were  forwarded  to  Camnla. 
The  colored  members  of  our  vigilance  committee  inforn»ed 
me  that  an  infant  (lied  in  that  basement  once  before,  and 
they  took  up  a  part  of  the  floor  and  binied  the  child  in 
the  grave  j)repared  for  it,  to  avoid  suspicion  ;  for  its  par- 
ents were  tin;  slaves  of  a  wealthy  Kentuckian,  who  was 
making  g.eat  efl!>rts  to  capture  the  family. 

U 


',  ,!v ' ' 


MX 


h   ■ 


1G2 


1 


A    WOMAN  S    I.Il"i:-\V()l{K. 


H  »'•/ 


li* 


'■I 


i 


4 


u 


Chapter  VII. 

CIIKTSTIAN  AND  KDUC'ATIONAL  WORK. 

Vi;ky  nmny  incidonUs  of  iiik'iest  we  imi.st.  piiss  over; 
])Ut.,  siillico  to  Hay,  there  was  .seldom  a  week  pasj^ed  with- 
out a  h^hivc  or  slaves  leaviiiiij  a  iMjaL  or  utherwiisc  erassing 
the  river  in  quest  of  freedom. 

1  met  on  the  street  a  sister  Wiiitc,  wlio  was  much  dis- 
tressed about  her  sou,  who  was  ahnost  gone  with  eoiisumi)- 
tion,  and  yet  was  unwilhuf^  to  sec  any  minister  or  reli<^ious 
j)ors<»u,  to  say  any  tiling  to  him  ahout  a  preparation  tor 
the  cluiuge.  "J)o,  please,  go  with  me  now  to  see  my 
dying  son  Harvey.     May  be  he'll  listen  to  yoti." 

1  went  to  her  liouse,  and  found  hint  too  weak  to  talk 
much.  'J'lu!  mollier  inlrudueed  me  as  her  friend  who  had 
railed  on  her.  1  took  his  emaciated  hand,  and  said,  "  1 
K'C  you  are  very  low  and  weak,  and  I  do  not  wish  to 
worry  you  with  talking,  but  you  luive  but  little  hope  of 
l)eing  restored  to  health  I  should  judge  from  your  appear- 
ance." 

He  turned  his  head  on  his  pillow  as  he  said,  '*  I  can 
never  be  any  better — I  can  't  live." 

"Then  your  mind  has  l)eon  turned  toward  the  future, 
and  may  the  eidightening  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  lead 
you  to  the  (Jreat  I*hysician  of  souls,  who  knows  every  dc- 
niro  of  the  heart,  and  is  able  to  .save  to  the  uttermost,  even 
fit  the  eleventh  hour."  I  saw  the  starting  tear  as  he  looked 
earnestly  at  me,  while  I  was  still  holding  his  feverish  hand 
in  mine.  "Will  it  be  too  nmch  for  you,  in  your  weak 
condition,  if  I  should  read  to  you  a  few  of  the  words  of 
our  Lord  and  8avior?" 

**  O  no,  I  \\  like  to  hear  you." 


i ;: 


rij; 


A   UKATH-r.KD   UKrENTANCK. 


10.? 


T  oiwuotl  to  .Tolm  xiv;  nml  u\f.m  rtiidinc;  n  few  vorsos 
I  suvv  tluU  the  iinpiT.s."<i<)n  iiiade  wjih  (k'«'|i('niii^,  ami  ji.-^Unl 
if  it  WDuld  worry  liiin  too  imicli  if  1  ^lioulil  spiiul  a  lew 
iiioiiiont.s  ill  prayer. 

''  O  no,  1  W  like  to  hrar  yon  pray." 

IMaciiig  my  liaiul  on  his  Uaehead,  I  implored  divine  aid 
in  leading  this  precions  soul  to  the  cleansing  fountain,  and 
that  his  i'aith  might  inerea.so,  and  in  its  cxerei><e  be  ena- 
bled to  secure  the  jK'arl  of  ^reat  price. 

As  I  arise  from  his  Ixjdside,  he  readied  out  both  hands 
for  mine,  and  said,  *'  I  want  you  to  come  tomorrow."  lie 
wept  freely ;  and  I  lel't  with  the  burden  of  tiiaL  precious 
soul  upon  my  heart. 

The  mother  ami  sister,  who  were  both  profes-^ors  of 
religion,  stood  near  the  door  weeping  for  jny  over  the  con- 
pent  (>f  th '  dear  son  and  brother  to  listen  to  the  lew  word.s 
ol"  reading  and  prayer. 

The  day  ioilowing  I  met  the  sick  man  ngain,  an<l  as 
soon  ;us  1  entered  his  mother's  room  she  said,  "  0,  how 
thankful  we  are  to  God  ibr  this  visit  to  my  poor  lK)y !  lie 
Keems  in  almost  constant  prayer  for  mercy.  Early  this 
inojuing  hi'  sjioke  of  your  coming  to-day." 

As  1  entered  his  itjom  he  thi\;w  up  both  hanils,  saying, 
*'  CJod  will  have  mercy  on  po;»r  mc,  won't  he?" 

''  Most  certainly,"  I  resjionded  ;  "  his  word  is  nigh  thee, 
even  in  thy  heart,  and  in  thy  mouth." 

*•  Do  })ray  for  nio,"  he  recpiestcd. 

I  read  a  few  words  from  the  l>ible,  and  followed  with 
prayer,  in  which  he  joined  with  a  few  ejaculations.  I  lefl 
liim  much  more  hojx'ful  than  on  the  previous  day. 

The  next  morning  his  sister  came  for  me  in  great  haste, 


saying,  *'  Brother  Harvey  wants  to  sec  you,  quic 


k. 


It  was  not  yet  sunrise ;  but  I  hastened  to  r  lx)y  the 
message,  as  I  supjiosed  he  was  dying.  Not  a  word  passed 
Ix'twecn  us  until  we  reached  her  brother's  room.  Upon 
oiHjning  his  duor   he  exclaimed,    "  CJlory,   glory    to  CJod, 


\i  »< 


t;    •■(' 


1G4 


A    \V<  )M  A  X  S    J  1  F  K-  W(  )l{ K . 


If    ." 


h 


^% 


1  ■/ 


Mrs.  Ilaviland!  Come  to  iiic  quick,  I  wnut  to  kiss  you; 
for  Ci(j(l  brought  luo  out  of  dnrknoss  this  nioruiiig  al»out 
the  break  of  ihiy.  O  lialh'lujah!  (Jlory  to  Jesus!  IIo 
shod  liis  blood  for  poor  nic;.uud  I  shouted  louder  tluin  I 
could  talk  for  a  good  many  days.  O,  how  1  wish  I  had 
strength  to  tell  every  body  that  I  am  happier  in  one  luin- 
ute  than  I  ever  knew  in  all  my  life  put  together!" 

IIo  became  (piito  exhausted  in  shouting  and  talking, 
and  I  advised  him  to  rest  now  iu  the  arms  of  the  beloved 
►Savior. 

'*  Yes,  I  am  in  liis  arms.  Glory  to  his  name  for  wliat 
lie  has  done  for  mc!  I  want  you  to  see  my  cousin  (Jeorge; 
he  la  .sick,  and  not  able  to  come  to  see  mc  to-day." 

I  told  him  I  would  within  a  few  days,  and  left  him, 
with  his  cup  of  .salvation  overllowing. 

About  t"\vo  hours  l)(>rore  he  died  he  looked  at  his 
mother,  smiling,  and  said,  "There's  Mary;  do  ut  you  see 
her,  standing  at  the  foot  of  my  bed?" 

"No,  my  son,  mother  don't  see  her." 

"  O,  how  beautiful  she  looks!  It  seems  as  if  you  must 
see  her ,"  and  be  looked  very  earnestly  at  the  object. 
"There,  she's  gone  now."  Fifteen  mimites  before  he 
breathed  his  last  he  .siid,  "  Here  she  is  again,  and  so 
beautiful!     Mother,  can't  you  .see  her?" 

*'  No,  son,  I  can  't  .see  her." 

"Beautiful,  beautiful  she  is.  There,  .^hc 's  gone  again." 
Just  as  the  soul  took  its  flight,  he  upraised  both  hands, 
with  a  smile,  and  said,  "  Here  she  is,  with  two  angels  with 
her.  They  'vc  come  for  mc ;"  and  the  hands  dropped 
as  the  breath  left  him,  with  the  smile  retained  on  hi.s 
countenance. 

The  .'iister  Mary,  that  died  a  number  of  years  previ- 
ously, was  about  four  years  old;  and  his  mother  told  me 
she  had  not  heard  her  name  mentioned  in  the  family  for 
months  before  Harvey's  death. 

jNIy  lime  was  fully  occupied  in  caring  for  the  sick  and 


AT  A  sri  K-IIED. 


10.) 


(lying,  as  cholera  Imd  bocoiue  voiy  pnvali'nt  and  fatal. 
Among  the  ninny  wUo  died  with  that  disca.so  wt'ie  Levi 
and  Catherine  Cotliu's  daiighUr  Anna,  about  tiii  years  of 
at;c,  and  a  hidy,  tlic  nuither  of  throe  diildri-n,  whose  ilyinj^ 
rcfjuost  was  that  1  should  take  charge  of  her  ehihlren  untd 
the  return  of  their  father,  wlio  wa.s  in  C'ahfornia. 

A  few  weeks  pa^ised,  and  my  promin'  to  Harvey  Wliite 
was  forgotten,  until  one  morning  it  rufhed  ni;t)n  lue  with 
Euch  force  that  I  trembled.  1  hastened  to  see  him,  and, 
to  my  surprise,  he  too  was  very  near  to  death  with  con- 
siunption,  and  without  hope.  His  mether  was  a  widow, 
also  an  earnest  Christian;  but  her  son  Cnort^e  w'ouUl  not 
allow  her  or  any  of  the  ministers  of  her  ac([iiuiutauci>  to 
talk  with  him  on  th<  subject  ef  religion.  But  he  was  gltul 
to  hear  tiiat  his  cousin  Harvey  had  died  so  hajipy;  aufl 
she  thought  if  I  sho  lUl  tell  him  about  Harvey  he  would 
listen  to  me.  He  could  speak  but  little  above  a  whisper, 
I  told  him  of  mv  reading  to  Harvev,  and  a.skcd  if  he  wmdd 
like  to  hear  mc  read  the  same  to  him.  He  said  he  would; 
and  I  read  the  same  words,  and  told  him  how  earnestly 
his  cousin  Harvey  had  prayed,  and  CJed,  who  heai-s  and 
answirs  jirayer,  answered  him,  ami  he  died  a  ha}»f>y  Chris- 
tian. His  feelings  became  tender,  and  I  knelt  by  his  bed- 
side in  supplication.     As  I  was  about  to  leave,  he  said: 

"  There  is  a  dilficulty  in  my  way,  and  J  think  you  can 
remove  it;  but  I  am  more  rested  early  in  the  morning,  and  if 
you  can  come  to-morrow  morning  1  will  tell  you  what  it  is." 

1  told  him  I  would  be  there  if  life  and  health  were  spared. 

The  following  morning  I  met  liim  more  rented.    He  ."^aid: 

"  I  have  tried  to  pray  to  (rod  ;  then  it  seems  as  if  Jtsus 
Christ  stands  there,  and  if  1  jmiy  to  Jesus  it  do  n't  feel 
quite  clear,  because  1  want  to  go  to  head-quarters,  and  1 
am  confused,  and  do  u't  know  where  to  go  or  what  to  do, 
and  so  I  've  given  it  all  uj) ;  lor  it 's  all  dark  before  me, 
iiuil  I've  concluded  to  die  in  the  dark.'' 

This   surrowl'ul    condition    of   uid)elief    ljrf)u;iht    secret 


1 


lOG 


A  woman's  life-work. 


1^1 


i  lltl) 


j^rayer  for  divine  guidance  in  words  to  place  the  divinity 
of  th(!  Lord  Jesus  as  clearly  as  possible  before  him.  I  read 
a  few  ])j)ssages  where  he  manifested  his  })ower  by  mira- 
cles, "  that  ye  iway  knosv  that  the  Son  of  man  hath  power 
on  earth  to  forgive  sins."  lie  heard  me  attentively,  and 
suddenly  exclaimed  : 

"Now  I  see  it;  now  I  see  it;  now  I've  got  a  footliold. 
Now  I  can  pray.     I  want  you  to  i)ray  for  nu'." 

lie  followed  in  earnest  prayer.  At  tlie  close  he  raised 
his  clasped  han<ls:  '*  I 've  found  him;  I 've  got  him.  C), 
how  I  wish  I  could  have  voice  and  strength  to  tell  you 
liow  happy  I  am!  I  want  to  go  to  my  Savior;  he  is  my 
nil.  But  I  can  not  ttU  it  here  ;  I  will  tell  it  in  glory. 
It's  all  light  now;  the  .larkness  is  all  gone." 

lie  .seemed  much  exhausted,  and  took  leave  of  his 
mother  and  sister,  and  sank  into  a  stupor,  and  (piietly 
passed  away  that  afternoon. 

I  ielt  under  renewed  obligations  to  praise  llim  for  his 
loving  kindness  in  reminding  me  so  vividly  of  the  promise 
i  made  to  that  dying  young  man,  Harvey  White,  lluw 
careful  we  should  be  to  attend  to  every  little  errand  as  we 
are  passing  through  our  life-work.  I  felt  to  upbraiil  my- 
self for  being  so  inattentive  to  that  reipiest.  Had  that 
l)reeious  soul  left  the  shores  of  time  without  hope  in  Christ, 
I  could  never  have  forgivcji  myself  for  my  neglect. 
There  are  ney-hn'ted  duties  that  dot  mv  life  here  and  there 
with  regr-v  ts,  that  have  been  lessons  to  teach  the  necessity 
of  gr.>ater  faithi'ulness  in  tlie  blaster's  work. 

The  daughter  of  John  Ilatlield  came  to  me  with  the 
word  that  there  was  a  woman  at  their  house  whj  wished 
to  see  me.  Iler  father  being  a  member  of  the  vigilance 
connniitcc  I  went  without  delay,  and  found  the  woman  in 
great  distress  of  mind.  She  said  she  was  a  slave,  but  had 
the  privilege  of  working  in  C'incinnati  at  house-cleaning, 
washing,  or  any  jobs  she  could  get,  by  paying  her  mistress 
three  dollars  per  week.     In  this  way  she  had  managed  to 


MARY    FRENCH . 


167 


liiy  aside  for  herself  over  twenty  dollars  during  nearly  two 
years.  She  had  a  husband  and  nine  children,  "An'  las' 
year,"  said  she,  "missus  was  gwine  to  sell  my  oldes' gal  an' 
her  bahy  to  get  money  to  keep  her  two  gals  in  school  Norf 
8«)mewhars,  an'  she  tuck  her  baiiy  an'  run  otf  for  Canada, 
an'  now  she  says  she 's  got  to  sell  my  Mary ;"  and  her  tears 
came  as  from  a  fountain. 

"  Why  do  n't  she  come  away  as  your  other  daughter  did  ?" 
I  asked. 

'Oh,  she  can't;  missus  won't  let  one  o'  my  family 
come  but  me.  SIu!  let's  me  come  an'  do  ail  her  marketin 
arter  I  gets  all  her  work  a-goin*,  so  my  nuin  an'  chilleu 
goes  on  wid  it;  .«he  lets  me  come  to  de  city  to  work,  an'  I 
jiays  her  three  dollars  every  week.  Now  I  'se  full  o'  trouble 
over  my  Mary ;"  and  she  wept  so  freely  that  it  was  some 
time  before  she  could  give  me  this  little  sketch.  I  f  )inid 
they  lived  fifteen  miles  from  the  river,  and  she  had  placed 
her  money  in  the  hands  of  a  colored  man  by  the  name  of 
liailcy,  to  kci'i)  for  her  to  use  at  some  future  lime  in  going 
to  Canada  w  ith  her  family.  lie  luul  told  her  when  the  right 
lime  came  he  wouM  have  her  money  ready  for  iicr,  and 
would  IkI[)  her.  I  tnjd  her  I  would  gladly  relieve  her  were 
it  in  my  i)ower;  but  all  I  could  do  was  to  advise  her  to 
bring  her  family  in  the  covered  market  wagon,  and  throw 
a  <iuilt  or  blanket  (»ver  them  ;  then  the  hay  she  always  put 
in  for  her  team  over  that,  and  a  bag  of  apples,  and 
another  of  potatws,  or  any  thing  .she  generally  brought 
into  market,  placed  in  front  so  as  \n  present  the  apiH'ar- 
atice  of  a  load  of  marketing.  As  she  had  been  over  so 
often,  she  said,  the  ferryman  hardly  ever  asked  her  for  her 
pass,  fi>r  he  knew  her  so  well.  "Don't  you  see  you  are 
the  ver}  one  to  bring  yours(>lf  and  family  here?  You 
could  drive  over  juid  take  your  frmily  to  eitlier  of  three 
places:  to  a  colored  family  on  Macallister  Street,  by  the 
name  of  Hall ;  or  to  licvi  Coffin's,  on  the  corner  of  Ninth 
and  Walnut  Streets;  or  bring  (hem  here  lo  John  Hatfield's. 


1%. 


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A    WOMAN  S    MFK-WOUK. 


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I 


At  cither  <>f  these  phioes  you  arc  us  s^uro  of  going  through 
safe  tus  if  you  were  sih'eady  in  ('ana(hi.'"  She  hstened 
with  great  attention,  and  her  teiirn  (h'U'd  away  as  ><he 
looked  Uj),  with  her  faee  shining  with  hope,  and  said,  "  1 
do  h'leve  I  eau  do  it ;  1  never  tiiought  o'  llmt.  I  '1!  go  to 
liaiK'y  for  my  money  fus  thnig;  an'  I'll  go  mighty  soon.'' 
I  charged  iicr  not  to  name  to  liailcy  or  any  other  human 
being  this  side  or  the  other,  tlie  plan  I  luul  given  her,  ex- 
(•ej)t  to  her  own  family.  She  promised,  and  left  with  a 
inueh  ligiiter  heart. 

A  few  days  later  I  was  recjuested  to  meet  Mary  French, 
who  would  he  at  John  llatliel'''s  house  at  twelve  o'clock. 
Her  friend  said,  "She  is  nearly  cra/.y,  an'  ^  coaxed  her  to 
see  you.  She's  los*  I'aith  in  every  body  1  reckon,  lor  'twas 
a  good  bit  afore  I  could  get  her  to  see  you  agin.  She 
said  she  did  see  you  wonst,  an'  you  couldn't  do  nothin'  for 
her.  She's  bin  house-cleanin'  wid  me,  an'  it  'pears  like 
she's  cryin'  all  the  time,  day  an'  night,  an'  me  an'  another 
*oman  got  her  to  see  you,  if  I'd  git  you  to  come  to  Mr. 
llatlield's  at  noon."  I  loiind  her  wringing  her  hands  and 
weeping  bitterly.  As  I  looked  upon  that  poor,  desi)airing 
woman  that  I  had  left  so  hopeful  :i  few  days  previously, 
I  felt  that  I  could  .siy  or  do  nothing  for  her  biiL  to  point  her 
to  the  (jlod  of  Israel,  who  is  abh^  and  willing  to  lead  his 
oppres.<ed  childnn.     I  said,  "  NWre  you  ever  a  Christiaii?" 

"  I  was  three  years  ago,  an'  I  lived  a  prayin'  life  a  year ; 
then  the  white  l()lks  did  no  bad,  it  'peared  like  1  could  n't 
live  'ligioii,  an'  I  giv'  it  all  up.  Missus  sole  my  poor  g;d 
<lown  de  river,  to  sen'  her  two  gals  to  de  Xoit"  to  school  ; 
now  she's  gwine  to  sell  my  Mary,  kase  th(>y 's  runnin'  short 
o'  money;  an'  she  missed  sellin'  my  gjd  his'  year.  If  I 
hadn't  lef  de  Lord  nuiylM!  dis  hard  trouble;  wouldn't  come 
'|>on  me."  And  again  she  began  to  wring  her  hands  with 
convulsive  weeping. 

As  I  looked  Upon  that  poor,  crushed  s-pirit.  the 
most   frantic   with  grief  of  any  person   I  i  ver  saw,  a  feel- 


PLANS   TROrOSED. 


1G9 


ing  of  confidence  sprang  up  in  mc  that  sho  would  U'como 
free.  Said  v  "You  havo  known  what  it  was  to  ask  God 
to  give  you  iK-^doni  from  sin,  and  make  you  free  from  the 
honihigo  of  Satan.  Now  go  to  him  witli  i'ull  purpose  of 
lieart,  ami  ho  will  restore  the  joys  of  his  salvation  and 
again  will  set  you  free  in  soul.  Then,  I  feel  confident  that 
the  Captain  of  the  soul's  freedom  will  open  the  way  for 
freedom  from  this  chain  of  slavery  that  now  hinds  you  as  a 
family.  Now  go  to  Jesus  ;  he  will  do  great  things  for  you. 
Y»)U  lose  confidence  iu  your  friends,  you  lo.se  confidence  iti 
yourself;  hut  go  to  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  helieve  he  will 
direct  you,  and  he  will  do  it.  Let  prayer  he  thy  constaiit 
work,  then  faith  will  increase — that  will  not  fail."  At  these 
few  words  she  became  calm,  and  said,  as  she  looked  up, 
"Canyon  i<  !•  v.\q  wh  re  my  daughter  is?"  r 

"Certaiiii> , '  I  said,  "I  heard  from  her  yesterday;  she 
is  in  Carthagii\ia,  Indiana.  I  had  supj)osed  she  went 
♦lirectly  to  Canadii,  and  I  was  .sorry  she  stoj)ped  .st»  near  to 
the  line — not  more  than  one  hundred  miles  off" 

•'  I  was  tole  she  went  through  this  city  with  her  hahy." 
"It  was  true,"  I  answered.      I  was  astonished  to  see  her 
wipe   her  tears  away  and  Injconie  calm  so  soon,  and  con- 
vcr.'<e  with  so  much  composure. 

"If  we  come  soon  can  you  go  a  piece  wid  us?" 
"  It  will  make  no  difference  whetiur  I  am  hen^ 
or  not,  if  you  go  to  either  of  the  places  I  told  yon  (»f. 
There  arc  a  great  many  safe  j)laces  here,  hut  I  gave  th<»se 
jdace.s  you  know  so  well,  and  can  fhid  day  «)r  night.  I 
shall  i)rol)al)ly  go  to  my  home  in  Michiiran  next  week,  and 
it  is  uncertain  when  I  return  ;  hut  do  n't  forget  to  carry 
your  harden  to  the  Lord  hy  constant  prayer  for  his  direct- 
ing hand;  and  whatever  way  he  opens,  take  it;  if  it  shoidd 
he  any  oth(>r  way  than  the  plan  I  suggested,  take  it,  n>- 
gardless  of  what  I  havc^  said,  except  lo  mind  closely  the 
itnpri'ssions  you  feel  confident  come  from  au  All-wise  Di- 
rector.    Do  this,  and  I  havo  great  faitli  in  your  sneee.«NS. 

15 


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170 


A  woman's  I.I fk- work. 


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'•'I  ' 


Never  liave  I  had  the  stron;^  fiiith  tluit  I  have  at  this 
nioiucnl,  that  it'  you  go  to  the  Savior  for  liis  helj)  in  tliis 
time  of  your  great  need,  he  will  lead  you  out  of  shiveiy. 
I  advise  you  not  to  wait  for  BaiU'V-  If  vou  come  hero 
you  can  all  he  taken  to  (."auada  without  a  dcjllar." 

This  seemed  to  surjuise  her.  She  said  she  could  get  a 
few  dolhirs,  as  she  was  earning  good  day  wages. 

"One  thing  more  I  would  say,"  I  went  on,  "and  that 
is,  wlierever  I  may  be,  whether  in  my  Michigan  home,  or 
liore  in  this  city,  I  shall  not  forg(>t  to  im[)lore  divine  aid 
iu  the  deliverance  of  this  family  from  slavery." 

With  this  solemn  interview  we  parted,  and  the  burden 
of  prayer  followi'd  me  to  my  home.  Hardly  a  day  passed 
without  presenting  that  poor  family  at  a  throne  of  grace 
for  their  preservation. 

Two  months  later  found  mo  again  in  the  exciting  scenes 
of  Cincinnati.  ^ly  first  inciuiry  was  far  Mary  French. 
"  Yes,  I  heard  a  few  days  ago  that  her  mistress  had  for- 
bidden her  ever  to  come  to  this  city  again,  and  had  threat- 
ened to  sell  the  whole  family  down  the  river,  and  I  suppose 
they  are  all  soM  ]>y  this  time,"  said  John  Ilatfii.ld.  IIo 
said  she  remained  in  the  city  three  or  four  weeks  after  I 
saw  Iwr,  to  get  money  to  start  with,  but  she  was  too  late. 
Her  Mary  was  sold  just  before  she  retiu'ned  home,  and  the 
])oor  woman  grieved  so  for  her  poor  girl,  that  he  heard 
her  mistress  abused  lier,  and  threatened  to  sell  them  all. 
It  seemed  as  if  I  could  hardly  eiulure  the  thought,  when  I 
had  indulged  such  strong  hope  of  her  success,  but  I  could  not 
yet  give  her  up,  though  I  regretted  exceedingly  lier  delay, 
as  I  felt  <rreat  c«)nndencc  that  lie  who  notes  the  fallini; 
sparrow,  and  hears  the  young  ravens  cry,  would  have 
l)r()uy:ht  that  family  out  of  bondage. 

While  in  charge  of  the  sick,  word  was  lirought  by  a 
workman  in  a  shop  that  there  was  sm  exciting  report  in 
town  tiiat  a  murkct  wiigon  brought  over  a  load  of  nine 
slaves  early  that  morning,  and  that  a  reward  of  five  huu- 


1 


A    PRO-SI, A VKRY    FRIKXD. 


171 


dre«l  dollars  was  ortl'n-d  for  inft  rmatioii  of  tlu'ir  wlicrc- 
abouts.  While  my  heart  leajK'*!  fur  joy,  hoping  it  iniirht 
be  Mary  Ficiich  and  family,  yet  as  I  was  in  a  pro-slavery 
family,  my  feelings  wvro  ke])t  to  myself     The  man  of  tlui 


iouse  sai( 


W 


hat  a  pity  to  lose  that  amount  of  proi)erty !  Jint 
according  to  your  principles,  Mrs.  Ilavilaiul,  I  suppose  you 
are  glad  of  it." 

"Certainly.  As  I  told  you  the  other  day,  the  negnuM 
liavc  tlic  same  rights  from  their  Creator  that  we  have,  and 
no  man  or  class  of  men  has  the  right  to  take  ihem  away." 

"Now  can't  you  set  aside  these?  notions  of  yours?  You 
can  easily  (ind  out  where  they  ar(%  and  slyly  report  them, 
and  here's  your  five  hundred  <lollars." 

"  I  would  not  for  ten  times  that  amount.   Would  you  do  it?" 

"Certainly  I  would,  and  should  think  it  my  duty." 

"I  am  astonished  to  hear  this  i'rom  one  who  professes 
to  be  a  follower  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  a  part  of  whose  mission 
was  to  unbind  the  heavy  bunlens  and  let  tlu'  o|»[»re<sed  go 
free.  It  is  pain  to  me  to  hear  you  advanc«»  the  sentiments 
you  do  in  the  presence  of  your  children;  and  a  class-lead*  r 
in  the  jNIethodist  Protestant  Church.  I  can  not  hencefor- 
ward acknowledge  you  as  a  brother  in  Christ." 

"  Vv'^iiy,  Mrs.  llaviland  !  You  are  the  most  uncharita- 
ble person  I  ever  Juet.  This  hurts  my  feelings  more  ihan 
any  thing  you  have  said  in  pn  .-enting  your  radical  |>osition." 

"  I  do  iioj)e  and  jtrav  that  the  enlighti-ning  intluences 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  may  lead  to  a  tiir  dillerent  view  i'rom 
your  present  one.  I  am  irrievcd  to  liear  this  from  one  who 
is  looked  upon  as  a  leader  to  the  Lamb  of  (Jod,  who  slml  - 
his  blood  for  the  whole  universe  of  nnm,  ngardle^s  of  color 
or  nation." 

His  reply  was,  "T  warn  to  roft^  3'ou  to  a  few  more 
Scripture  argiimonts  that  I  iiuve  ii«4  nu'ntio?n*<l.  T<»-night. 
from  seven  o'eloek  till  nine,  I  want  to  Uilk  wi'Ji  you  on 
this  subject." 


.»' 


11 


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a- 


172 


A    woman's    1,1  FR- work. 


i| 


4     I 


I  told  liim  I  would  be  ready,  but  I  had  one  request, 
and  that  was  to  make  this  a  subject  of  prayer,  as  I  should 
myself,  during  the  <lay.  lie  sai<l  he  wcndd  seriously  look 
it  over,  and  left  for  his  busiuc^s. 

At  nine  o'clock  my  patient  was  comfortably  cared  for, 
and  I  had  been  talking  of  gc  ing  to  Levi  Coffin's  on  an 
errand  for  a  number  of  days.  I  asked  permission  of  her 
to  be  absent  an  iKUir  for  that  purpose,  and  her  consent  ft^r 
two  hours  was  given.  On  my  way  I  called  on  John  Hat- 
field, to  know  whether  this  company  of  slaves  was  not  the 
INIary  French  family. 

*'  Oh,  no,  that  juwr  family  has  gone  down  the  river. 
I  heard  some  days  ago  that  they  wore  sold  to  a  trader." 

"The  market-wagon  was  the  plan  I  gave  Mary,  and  I 
hoped  so  much  that  it  was  her  family." 

"  Yes,  but  we  should  be  just  as  glad  for  other  slaves 
panting  for  liberty,  as  for  her,"  and  I  accepted  the  remark 
as  almost  a  half  reproof  i'or  being  more  anxious  for  lur 
than  for  other  slaves. 

As  I  entered  ('alherinc  Coffin's  room  I  inquired  whether 
she  know  tliis  morning's  company  of  ihe  nine  slaves  to  l>o 
Mary  Fronoh  and  family.  "  I  know  nothing  oi'  the  name, 
but  a  woniau  an  1  little  child  are  up  in  our  attic;  but  no- 
bi»<ly  knows  it  a!)  >ut  this  house  but  Levi  and  I." 

"  Please  go  up  and  tell  her  a  friend  is  going  to  call  on 
her,  so  as  not  to  frighten  iicr." 

"  (lo  on  ;  she  '11  know  we  w.uld  let  no  one  but  a  friend 
go  uj)."  I  walked  slowly  up  to  the  f«urth  story,  and  1(»! 
on  a  I)ox  in  the  corner  sat  Mary  French,  w.th  her  little 
'grandchi'd  sitting  at  her  feet.  ''  Is  it  possible  that  ia 
Mary  French?"  I  exclaimed.  She  sprang  to  mo  with  out- 
stretched arms,  clasped  me  with  tears  of  joy  uiid  loanujg 
her  head  on  my  sh«'ulder   s(  bbcd. 

"  ().  my  (»od  has  savec^  me  so  fnr,  but  my  pore  Mary 
was  sole  down  do  rd)t)er,  v\hou  1  a  here  in  de  city  to  git 
a  little  money  to  atari  wid.     When  I  gel.<  into  missua  door, 


MARY    FRENCH  S   STORY. 


173 


I  port  o'  felt  somcthin'  wrong,  an'  axt  bor,  '  Wlmr's  Mary?' 
She  say,  'I  solo  hor  las'  wt'ok,'  an'  I  crioil,  'O  niy  (lod! 
pave  my  pore  eliiJc  Mary!'  an'  slio  kotdied  up  do  tonj^.s 
an'  beat  me  on  my  bead  'til  I  Ioshi  my  min',  and  when  I 
come  to  I  was  layin'  on  do  floor  bleodin'.  Yon  see  here  ia 
a  sore  yit"  (pointing  to  ber  bead).  Tbero  was  a  gash  that 
must  bave  been  three  inches  long  by  the  appearance  of  tbo 
scar  and  sore,  yet  unhealed.  "  Missus  sai<l  I  never,  the 
longes'  day  I  live,  should  set  foot  in  Cinciiniati,  'case  free 
niggers  ruin  me,  an'  afore  she  bave  such  a  fuss  as  dis,  sho 
put  de  bull  of  us  in  ber  pocket.  I  knowd  what  dis  mean, 
and  I  tried  mighty  bard  to  cheer  up  afore  ber.  IJut  my 
tears  was  my  meat  and  driid;  a  few  days.  I  'membered 
your  Word  to  go  to  de  Lord  day  an'  night,  'cast!  1  could  n't 
come  to  yon  no  mo'c.  In  three  days  be  answered  my 
prayer,  an'  jus'  tole  me  I 's  gwine  to  Ixj  free,  an'  I  tole  my 
busbau'  so,  but  be  could  n't  git  faith  in  me.  I  tole  'iin  to 
j)nt  faitb  in  God,  as  I  did  now.  IJut  I  did  lose  faith  iti 
my  bcs'  frien'  when  Bailey  tole  mo  you  an'  Ilatfiel'  be- 
trayed my  gal  Mary,  an'  got  a  hundred  rlollars  reward  ; 
den  I  was  mos'  crazy.  And  when  dat  'oman  tole  me  to 
go  to  you,  an'  I  toj(>  ber  I  did  talk  to  you,  and  to!e  her 
what  Bailey  said  'bout  you  an'  Uatliel',  she  said  he  was  a 
bad  man,  an'  lie<l  only  to  keep  my  money.  She  begged 
nje  so  bard  I  tole  her  if  you  'd  tell  me  whar  Mary  is,  I  \\ 
have  faith  in  yon,  an'  when  you  tole  mc  so  quick,  all  my 
faith  in  yon  come  back.  IIow  I  wish  yon  could  .«<ee  my 
man,  f  )r  be  's  so  sure  they  '11  cotch  us.  I  do  n't  know  whar 
he  is,  f  )r  we  's  scattered  among  de  good  people.  O,  what 
a  time  T  had  wid  'im  to  git  'nn  started.  I  loaded  an'  un- 
loaded four  times  afore  he'd  come.  At  las'  a  pore  while 
man  tole  me  he  bear  missus  say  she  gwine  to  sell  us  all  to 
de  firs'  trader  come  along.  I  say,  'What  shall  I  do?'  He 
say,  '  If  I  was  yon,  I  'd  run  away.'  I  say  '  Here  's  my  man 
an'  ciiillen,  can't  go  widout  'em.'  He  say  'All  go,  an'  if 
dey  cotuli  you  't won't  be  ao  wium  dun  to  go  to  de  trader, 


1  ■  'i  ■*'■ 


171 


A    woman's    1,1  FH- work. 


t  ' 


and  if  I  can  do  niiy  way  to  help  you  I  will,  for  I  frol.s 
Sony  for  you.'  Wlicu  I  tolc  luy  iniiu,  lie  uiis  so  skccrcd 
he  did  n't  know  liisself  scarcely.  Ho  was  riudy  to  do  any- 
how I  wants  'itn,  an'  I  wont  to  dis  white  man,  an'  ax  'ini 
for  his  hoy  ten  year  ole,  to  go  wid  me  to  market,  an'  take 
all  my  family,  an'  I  'd  cover  'em  up  in  de  market  waj^on. 
*An'  I'll  tell  your  b  )y  I  wants  'im  to  wateh  my  team  for 
mc,  an'  I'll  gib 'ini  a  d  liar.'  'All  right,  only  tell  'im 
what  you'll  do,  an'  tell  'im  to  come  an' ax  me;  an'  he 
mu.-'n't  know  I  knows  ab  )ut  it.'  An'  I  tuk  mi.*.-ius'  young 
bosses,  an'  put  my  man  an'  chilleii  in,  eover  'em  up;  den 
put  a  hag  o'  taters  an'  apples  an'  a  basket  o'  ehiekens  in 
front.  An'  I  had  dis  little  boy  ])y  dc  chickens,  so  if  he  ery 
or  make  a  noise  I  shake  de  l)asket  an'  do  nc'i.-se  ( f  «le 
ehiekens  kill  de  n(  ise  ;.f  do  hoy.  An'  I  drove  <le  fifteen 
miles  to  de  ribber  by  daylight,  and  dr()ve  back  of  Covin'- 
ton  till  de  smoke  of  de  i'erry  boat  rise;  den  I  prayed  (lod 
to  keep  de  ferryman  from  a.xin'  me  for  my  pass.  Vvr  I  'a 
mighty  feared  he  would,  'case  I  had  .:''  luen  here  in  so 
long.  An'  jus'  afore  sun  up  my  man  crawled  out  de  ba'  k 
of  de  wagon.  I  told  dc  boy  to  hoi'  de  ho.^.ses  till  I  fix 
somethin'.  I  wliispercd,  'Get  back  (puck,  for  (Jod's  .sake,* 
au'  he  whispereil,  'Let's  go  back,  I  knows  (ley '11  c(»tch 
us.'  '(lo  back !  Man,  its  death  to  go  back ;  we  d  be  in 
jail  in  no  time  waitin'  for  dc  trader.'  An'  he  crawl  hack 
nn'  I  tuck  'im  up  agin,  an'  wc  trindde  like  a  popple  leaf. 
Den  de  smoke  jus'  ri.se  on  de  ferry -hi  at,  an'  I  drove  on 
wid  dc  white  boy  by  my  side.  I  prayed  dat  de  Lord 
wouldn't  let  de  ferryman  ax  mc  for  my  pass.  If  he  did 
I's  gwiuc  to  say,  '  Dis  white  boy  my  i)ass;'  but  he  did  n't 
say  a  word,  an'  I  prai.se  (tod  tor  answerin'  my  prayer." 
I  told  her  she  had  nothing  to  fear  from  the  live  hundred 
dtillars  reward;  she  was  in  good  hands;  all  slio  had  to  do 
was  to  go  when  they  were  ready  to  take  them  ;  but  1 
would  write  a  few  lines  for  her  to  take  to  the  first  stopping 
place  after  Icaviug  the  city,  advismg  to  go  by  way  of 


r 


HKWAUI)   ori'KIM'.lK 


175 


I 


Carlliugiiiiii.  **  Write  iin;  fmm  that  town,  nnd  toll  yoiir 
tluu;,Mil(  r  tt>  ^'o  oil  to  C.'iiiijulu  with  y<>n  without  I'ail." 

1  left  her  with  a  lighter  heart,  rejoicini,'  with  that  re- 
joiciii;^  family,  though  yet  treniitling  with  tear.  The  tinio 
ai)i>ointe(l  fi)r  the  two  Imui^s'  tliseussioii  on  the  suhjeet  oi' 
slavery  arrived.  My  |ir(>-.slavery  I'riend  was  not  dispoi^ed 
to  ojHMi  the  coiiversjiliou  he  de.«<ired  iii  the  luorniug.  Aitt  r 
waiting  until  one  hour  had  elajwed,  1  a.<ked  il"  he  wa.s  pre- 
pared to  bring  the  Scripture  arginnents  he  had  fur  my 
consideration  at  this  iiour.  lie  n'|'lied  that  he  had  thought 
of  hut  little  el.si!  during  the;  wh'>!  <i;iy  ;  hut  (Jii  the  whole 
ilouhte.d  whether  his  n-asons  would  stand  the  lest,  and  «le- 
clined  flaying  any  thing  farther  in  defense;  of  the  position 
he  had  advanced.  A  few  weeks  later  he  died  of  cholenu 
I  called  on  his  widow,  who  said  he  died  a  happy  Hoid,  and 
often  s|M)ke  of  his  confidence  in  mo  as  an  honest-hearted 
Christian,  and  she  never  heard  him  sjM'ak  (lisi)aragingly 
ol"  the  colored  people  aft^'r  the  long  conversation  we  had 
on  that  suhjeet.  I  regretted  the  loss  of  an  opp(»rtunity  of 
seeing  him  after  Marv  French  and  familv  were  safe  in 
Canada.  I  wislu'd  to  give  him  their  history,  as  I  fell  sure 
it  would  have  heen  "  hke  a  nail  driven  in  a  sure  place." 
lie  had  lived  in  the  Stnith,  and  the  suhjeet  of  felavery  hud 
never  Ik^ou  phu'cd  before  him  in  this  way. 

The  reward  for  tlrc  nine  slaves  was  douliled  on  the 
second  day  of  their  exodus.  All  the  dew  the  hunters  got 
of  their  wherealxuita  was  fntiu  the  l)<»y  tht>y  met  at  the 
lorry  He  C(>uld  not  roa<l  the  names  on  the  .sfn-ets,  and 
coidd  oidy  iK)int  as  near  as  he  knc'W  in  the  direction  where 
they  all  «ef^  He  told  them  he  did  n't  know  then^  were 
any  in  the  wag<in  hut  "Mack  Mary,"  till  they  all  got  out; 
then  she  told  him  to  go  to  Walnut  Streit  ferry,  and  he 
<ln)vc  two  or  three  blocks  when  he  stopjK'd  and  cried,  be- 
cause he  didn't  know  where  to  hud  Walnut  Htnet.  Then 
a  nuuj  came  and  (old  him  to  stop  crviiig  and  he'd  drive 
him    to   the   ferry.     They   went    to    liall's,  on  Macallister 


4    it 


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1 

170 


A  woman's  i.ife-work. 


Strpct,  but  not  one  wsi.s  left  there  five  minutes.  They  were 
conductCMl  to  dillerent  lu(lin*;-i)hiees,  and  not  one  was  led 
within  a  half  a  mile  to  a  mile  from  that  part  of  the  city. 
{Slave-hunters  were  paid  from  three  dollars  to  seven  dollars 
a  day  for  watching  around  those  suspected  streets  and 
those  leading  northward.  The  faniily  were  dressed  in 
disguise  and  taken  out  in  three  carriages,  closed,  and  two 
white  men  in  front,  that  gave  an  impression  at  sight  of  a 
load  of  white  i)eople.  At  noon-day,  in  this  manner,  they 
rounded  the  corners,  where  were  standing  some  of  their 
hunters  who  were  receiving  their  seven  dollars  a  day, 
ns  was  ascertained  by  a  scheme  gotten  up  by  the  colored 
people. 

The  next  evening  after  the  nine  fugitives  were  taken 
northward,  they  drove  a  double  carriage  into  an  alley 
near  North  Street,  and  the  same  number  of  colored  people, 
fio  closely  watched  for,  were  hustled  in  with  haste,  and 
driven  off  with  speed.  The  call  to  "  Stop,  halt,"  was  not 
lieeded,  until  the  police  rushed  at  the  increased  cry,  "  Slop 
Vitrf,  STor  Tini:F,"  and  slackened  their  pace.  But  while 
the  excited  crowd  gathered  to  sec  the  police  arrest  tho 
thieves,  the  colored  man  beside  the  driver  demanded  tho 
reason  why  he  and  bis  ladies  should  receive  this  insult  to 
binder  their  pleasure  ride.  By  throwing  a  light  from  their 
dark  lantern  in  the  faces  of  their  pursuers,  the  huk<ters 
they  had  suspected  were  recognized,  to  their  great  annoy- 
ance. There  were  those  among  them  who  would  not  have 
been  exposed,  perhaps,  for  half  the  amount  of  the  reward. 

A  few  days  subsequent  to  this  little  episode  I  received 
a  letter  from  Mary,  after  their  arrival  at  Carthaginia, 
where  she  met  her  daughter,  who,  with  her  child,  made 
their  party  number  eleven.  They  very  soon  reached  the 
"land  of  the  free."  Nothing  further  was  heard  from  them 
until  I  went  with  my  two  daughters  to  Windsor,  Canada 
West,  to  attend  their  first  of  August  celebration,  in  com- 
memoration  of  West   India   emancipation.     There    were 


IN   CANADA. 


1 


i  i 


gathered  a  very  larpjc  congrojjation  in  a  prove,  of  lM)tli  co\- 
orcd  and  wluto  people.  While  listening  to  an  elo(pient 
oratiou  deUvercd  by  Hainnel  J.  May,  of  lioston,  I  waa 
taken  from  my  seat  and  borne  away  a  tew  rod.s,  hardly 
touching  the  tops  of  the  bushes  with  my  feet.  I  turned 
first  one  way  and  then  the  other,  until  I  discovered  tho 
sable  face  of  Mary  French,  with  big  tears  rolling  down  her 
cheeks.  Not  a  word  was  spoken  until  w(;  were  entirely 
away  from  the  congregation,  and  I  said,  "Mary,  liav'n't 
we  gone  far  enough?"  when  she  let  me  down,  and  caught 
hold  of  my  hancb  and  kissed  them,  while  tcai-s  of  joy  were 
still  falling.  "O,  how  happy  we  is  to  be  all  free.  Can't 
you  go  to  Maiden  an' see  all  my  family?  I  knows  my 
man  would  come  all  dis  way  afoot  if  he  knowcd  you  's 
here."  I  told  her  I  could  not,  as  I  must  return  the  next 
day  with  my  two  daughters. 

'♦Isdey  heah?" 

"They  were  sitting  by  my  side,"  said  I;  "those  two 
girls  dressed  in  white  are  my  daughters." 

"Sweet  creturs!  dc  little  angels;  I  mus'  go  see  'em. 
I's  got  two  gals  here,  too,  an'  I'll  bring  'cm  to  see  you." 
And  soon  her  hands  were  placed  on  the  shoulder  of  each, 
still  weeping  for  joy  as  she  said:  "God  bless  you!  You 
tinks  it  strange  to  sec  an  old  black  'oman  come  to  you  like 
dis,  but  you  would  n't  if  you  know'd  what  your  mother  has 
done  for  me  an'  my  family.  If  it  had  n't  been  for  her  wo 
should  all  been  in  slavery  to  dis  day.  I  wants  you  to  go 
out  dar  whar  you  see  your  mother  standin'  afore  a  great 
Avhile.  I'm  gwine  back  to  her  now."  She  came  with  her 
two  girls,  who  were  also  very  demonstrative  in  shaking 
and  kissing  my  hands ;  but  they  laughed  instead  of  weep- 
ing as  did  their  overjoyed  mother.  By  the  time  my 
dauffhters  came  to  us  we  were  served  with  cake  and  ice 
cream.  As  she  and  her  daughters  had  on  the  ground  ji 
little  stand  from  which  they  made  sales,  their  favors  in 
this  line  were  repeated. 


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178 


A  woman's  life-work. 


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liistead  of  one  year's  suspension,  as  we  designed,  we 
had  deferred  finishing  our  institute  building  in  Michigan 
from  time  to  time,  until  four  years  had  elapsed.  As  tlie 
Ohio  school  law  made  provision  to  support  a  colored  school 
in  any  town  or  place  where  there  were  as  many  as  fifteen 
regular  scholars,  my  daughter  Anna  and  myself  taught  a 
school  for  them  of  one  hundred  scholars  one  term,  in  the 
basement  of  Zion  Church,  Toledo.  The  expenses  were  paid 
from  the  school  fund. 

With  several  fugitives,  I  started  on  my  way  to  Toledo 
from  Cincinnati,  and  spent  a  day  at  our  friend  William 
Beard's.  From  thence  we  were  taken  to  Newport,  Indi- 
ana, where  was  a  meeting  ajjpointed  in  behalf  of  Calvin 
Fairbanks,  in  which  I  gave  a  sketch  of  my  visit  to  Louis- 
ville jail  in  his  behalf.  I  read  the  letter  I  had  received 
from  his  lawyer  on  leaving  Cincinnati,  containing  a  propo- 
sition to  do  the  best  he  could  for  him,  and  with  that  object 
ip  view  he  staved  off  the  case  to  the  next  session  of  their 
court.  At  the  close  of  the  meeting  fifteen  dollars  were 
raised,  Bishop  Quinn,  of  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  giving  one-third  of  '.t.  As  there  was  a  fall  of 
snow  a  lo:)t  deep,  the  friends  ct.MoUidcd  to  take  us  across  a 
swamp,  which  would  save  a  numl)er  of  miles;  and  as  there 
were  indications  of  a  thaw,  one  man  offered  his  team  and 
double  sleigh  if  a  certain  colored  man  would  go  that  night 
and  drive  it.  We  were  soon  well  protected  from  the  pro- 
spective inclement  weather,  with  the  bulfalo-robe  presented 
to  me,  and  quilts  around  the  balance  of  our  load. 

The  sliifling  wind  brought  quite  a  snow-storm,  that 
covered  us  over  about  three  inches  deep.  My  company 
being  very  cold,  I  advised  to  stop  at  a  house,  the  dim 
light  of  which  was  so  tem])ting  to  the  .shivering  company. 
1  went  to  the  door  and  asked  permission  to  enter,  giving 
our  number,  and  our  object  in"  going  through  the  swamp 
before  a  l)reak-up.  The  two  old  ])eople  granted  the  favor ; 
but  when  the  f»ld  lady  saw  the  color  of  my  company  she 


/ 


ON  THE   ROUTE. 


179 


became  rather  suspicious.  Said  slie,  "  If  these  are  slaves 
we  do  n't  want  anv  trouble,  because  vou  know  the  Fugi- 
tive-slave  Law  makes  a  deal  of  trouble  in  some  })laces." 
I  assured  her  they  would  have  none  of  that  character  on 
our  account,  for  these  young  people  were  going  with  me 
to  attend  my  school.  When  we  were  warmed  and  the 
horses  fed,  we  left  our  kind  friends  to  lK»rrow  no  more  trouble 
for  fear  of  being  disturbed  Avith  slave-hunters. 

About  three  o'clock  we  came  to  a  large  half-finished 
frame  house,  brilliantly  lighted,  and  the  man  seemed  to  be 
preparing  liis  team  for  leaving.  I  called  with  our  driver  to  see 
if  we  could  warm  ourselves  and  feed  the  team,  giving  our 
reason  for  crossing  the  swamp  to  save  distance,  and  as 
there  were  indications  of  a  thaw  in  the  afternoon,  we  chose 
to  come  through  that  night.  The  man  said  that  was  his 
reason  for  going  for  a  load  of  lumber  so  early — he  fearing 
a  break-up.  They  were  very  kind,  and  insisted  on  our 
resting  till  daylight,  and  taking  a  warm  breakfast.  The 
invitation  was  accepted  with  gratitude.  I  spent  my  time 
in  conversing  with  our  kind  hostess,  while  my  com])any 
slept  an  hour. 

At  nine  o'clock  we  reached  Carthaginia.  The  first  one 
we  met  was  a  colored  woman,  of  whom  I  inquired  where 
we  could  find  a  ])lacc  to  tarry  fi)r  a  night,  and  find  prov- 
ender fi)r  our  horses.  She  took  in  our  situation  at  once, 
and  pointed  to  a  large  frame  house  in  sight,  the  house  of 
Samuel  Jones,  half  a  mile  distant.  "While  she  was  giving 
this  information,  a  man  ahead  of  us,  with  his  carriage, 
stopped  and  turned  back,  saying,  '*  There  is  j\Ir.  Jones 
now,  coming  to  see  you,  I  reckon."  As  he  came  to  wi^,  I 
told  him  of  the  incpiiry  I  made  for  a  resting-pla('(\  "And 
that  is  my  house  for  you  and  barn  fiir  your  horsis,"  he 
said.  After  giving  each  of  us  a  siiake  of  the  iuuid,  he 
said,  turning  to  me,  "  I  know  you,  though  1  never  saw 
you  before,  and  I  will  tell  you  of  a  circumstance,  after  we 
get  home,  whereby  you  will  recognize  me."     We  followed 


1     ':^- 


w 


m 


\t 


'  _,-«f" 


«( 


i  'I 

1   ''t 


f1   ■*. 


rr; 
.    :' 

■i 

■»     ■  ■; 

S  ■■'' 

1 

1.' 

1-  li 

Mi' 


:«   ' 


180 


A  woman's  life-work. 


him  to  his  very  comfortable  home.  We  were  soon  seated 
at  a  luxurious  table.  Breakfast  being  over,  he  related  a 
circumstance  in  which  I  had  taken  a  deep  interest,  and  by 
corresi)onding,  the  release  from  slavery  of  his  relative  was 
effected. 

Brother  Jones  gave  me  ten  dollars  for  brother  Fair- 
banks, in  the  Kentucky  prison.  Here  we  took  leave  of  our 
conductor,  Henry  Marshal,  and  a  team  and  teamster  were 
provided  to  take  us  on  l)y  way  of  Bellefontaiue.  The  an- 
ticijjated  warmer  weather  overtook  ns,  and  with  a  wagon 
we  left  Carthaginia.  Streams  with  floating  ice  nmde  ford- 
ing difficult,  especially  Mosquito  Creek ;  but  our  driver 
and  Simon  measured  the  depth  of  water,  and  with  rails 
pushed  the  floating  ice  from  the  ford,  to  enable  me  to  drive 
through.  Working  as  they  did  with  all  their  might  to  keep 
the  cakes  of  ice  from  running  against  the  horses  and  from 
impeding  the  wheels,  when  we  reached  the  swift  current 
of  the  stream  a  cake  blocked  the  wag(m  so  as  to  stop  the 
horses  a  few  moments.  One  horse  became  discouraged  ami 
began  to  lie  down.  At  this  the  three  women  jumped  upon 
a  large  floating  cake,  from  which  they  reached  the  shore 
with  the  help  of  the  men.  Our  teamster  found  his  way 
into  the  wagon ;  and  by  pushing  and  crowding  this  way 
and  that  he  loosened  the  wheel,  and  with  continued  urging 
and  Simon's  wading  to  the  horses'  heads,  they  finally  pulled 
through.  Wc  drove  to  a  house,  where  the  men  changed 
their  socks,  and  rubbed  their  horses  with  straw,  they  said, 
two  hours,  and  then  fed  them.  We  pursued  our  journey 
without  further  difiiculties  to  our  school  in  Toledo. 
'  Often  did  my  whilom  slave  scholars  refer  to  the  excite- 
ment at  Mosquito  Creek  ford.  I  found  the  prejudice  here 
very  bitter  against  a  colored  sch(M)l;  but  the  colored  people 
had  cond)ined  their  weak  forces  and  built  a  church,  designed 
for  school,  as  well  as  their  occasional  meetings.  ]My  school 
averaged  nearly  twenty  scholars  during  the  term,  at  the 
close  of  which  we  put  in  a  petition  for  a  support  from  the 


i\ 


COLORKD   HC'H(X)U 


181 


school  fund.  But  a  majority  of  two  ruled  ngainst  us;  for, 
altliough  the  State  law  required  them  to  support  this  sdiool, 
tliey  had  already  complied  with  the  rc(]uirenient. 

Although  I  had  designed  to  return  home  and  ro-opeu 
liaisiu  Institute,  yet  to  press  tlie  hoard  of  education  into 
its  duty  I  reopened  their  school  for  tlie  second  term;  and 
every  time  that  hoard  met  I  met  with  them  with  my  peti- 
tion, informing  them,  at  their  first  refusal  to  adopt  tlio 
school,  that  tliis  petition  of  the  importunate  Avidow  wouhl 
stand  l)cfore  them  until  it  was  granted.  Tliey  frequently 
incpiired  of  the  colored  people  how  long  I  was  going  to 
teach  for  them.  The  answer  every  time  was,  as  I  told 
them,  until  the  hoard  of  education  took  it.  In  their  dis- 
cussions iu  the  hoard  I  understood  it  was  frequently  re- 
marked hy  our  opposers  "that  the  end  of  that  negio  school 
woidd  he  when  !RIrs.  Ilavil;  vul  left,  and  that  wouldn't  he 
long,  for  the  negroes  were  too  poor  to  pay  her."  But  it 
was  not  for  money  that  I  taught  their  scliool,  hut  to  sec 
justice  meted  out  to  them. 

There  were  fifteen  families  of  the  loAver  class  of  Irish 
"who  lived  in  shanties  near  the  canal  that  ran  within  a  few 
rods  of  our  school-house,  and  as  the  most  of  our  school 
passed  them,  or  would  have  to  go  half  a  mile  farther,  wo 
got  from  one  man  in  j)articular  a  systematic  cursing;  hc- 
ginning  with  cursing  my  feet,  and  cursing  every  toe  on 
them,  and  cursing  every  nail  on  every  toe,  and  so  on,  to 
cursing  my  head,  and  cursing  every  hair  on  it.  This  reg- 
ular set  of  curses  were  for  me  every  time  I  passed  when 
he  was  in  his  cahin,  and  frequently  a  numhcr  of  others 
standing  hy  v;ould  join  him.  But  as  he  or  some  of  the 
others  were  so  often  drunk,  it  was  a  long  time  heforc  I 
could  find  the  snitahle  opportunity  to  go  to  their  cahins 
and  have  a  talk  with  them,  as  I  desired.  As  some  of  their 
company  were  so  hoisterously  furious,  the  children  did  not 
dare  pass  them  unless  I  was  with  them,  for  iu  udditiou  to 
cursing  they  were  stoued. 


if 

il 


182 


».•», 


A   WOMAN'S   I.IFE-WORK. 


I 


6s;  i 


AVhen  the  second  term  was  two-thirds  through  1  pro- 
posed a  picnic  for  the  school  and  its  friends,  and  had  the 
scholars  declaim  a  few  pieces.  An  clofpient  sj)cecli  deliv- 
ered in  the  House  of  Lords,  when  iin mediate  emancipatiou 
was  discussed  in  the  English  parliament,  was  well  com- 
mitted and  declaimed  by  one  of  the  young  men.  A  num- 
ber of  the  colored  people  feared  a  mob,  but  the  majority  were 
willing  to  risk  any  measure  I  thought  best  to  adopt.  I 
trained  them  thoroughly  in  speaking,  and  they  trained 
themselves  in  singing,  and  the  school  selected  a  little  girl 
to  be  crowned  as  their  queen  of  ^lay,  and  on  the  25th  of 
jMay  we  marched  through  town  to  a  grove,  with  two  beau- 
tiful banners.  The  one  borne  by  the  young  woman  who 
walked  l)y  my  side  bore  the  motto,  '*  God  is  love,"  and 
next  to  it  all  the  girls  followed  in  couples.  Then  followed 
the  young  men  and  boys  in  the  same  manner,  headed  by 
the  banner,  upon  Avhich  was  inscribed,  "Knowledge  is 
power."  I  instructed  the  children  and  young  people  to 
Avalk  straight  forward,  and  not  even  turn  their  heads  to 
the  right  or  left,  and  not  to  notice  by  lock  or  word  any 
remark  that  might  be  made,  not  even  to  talk  to  each  other 
until  we  reached  our  little  stand  in  the  woods.  Not  a 
word  of  disrespect  was  heard,  and  some  of  the  white  peo- 
ple who  drove  out  with  their  carriages  told  me  they  had 
not  seen  such  order  in  marching  in  any  of  the  ]May  picnics 
that  the  white  schools  had  had  that  Spring.  They  were 
highly  delighted  with  our  exercises.  At  the  next  session 
of  the  board  my  school  Avas  recognized  as  a  public  one, 
and  the  chairman,  Rev.  Dr.  Smyth,  was  authorized  m  hire 
me  to  teach  the  next  term.  He  met  mo  on  the  street  and 
said,  '*  ^Irs.  Havilai.d,  the  importunate  widow's  prayer  is 
answered ;  your  petition  is  granted  at  last,  and  I  ara  in- 
structed to  hire  you  for  the  next  term." 

*Thcn  my  Avork  is  finished  Avith  this  term,"  said  I, 
*'My  object  is  accomplished.  I  have  business  at  home  that 
I  hojKjd  to  haA'o  entered  upon  Avheu  I  closed  last  term ; 


IRISH    FRIFA'DS. 


183 


but  ns  yo'ir  board  refused  to  do  its  duty  I  contiuued,  al- 
thuugh  I  have  not  averaged  twenty-five  cents  a  week  dur- 
ing the  six  months,  as  a  large  majority  of  the  colored 
people  here  are  very  poor." 

*'  I  know  that,  and  I  have  contended  from  the  first 
that  they  ought  to  have  a  school ;  but  I  am  suprised  at 
your  not  remaining  in  the  schod,  as  you  shall  have  a  fair 
compensation  now." 

I  told  him  I  would  give  him  the  name  of  a  competent 
tcaohor,  who  was  now  working  himself  through  college  at 
Oberlin — John  INIitchel — a  worthy  Christian  young  man  of 
their  own  color,  with  whom  they  could  correspond  and  se- 
cure his  services.  His  parents  were  living  in  Toledo,  and 
he  would  be  pleased  to  accept  the  positi:>n.  I  thankci'.  the 
board  through  their  chairman  for  the  favor  they  had 
granted  in  behalf  of  the  colored  people  in  Toledo. 

It  being  the  seventh  day  of  the  week,  as  I  was  passing 
my  Irish  friends,  and  all  quiet,  and  a  comjiany  sitting  on 
the  grass  in  the  shade  of  their  cabins,  I  accepted  this  as 
my  hng-sought  oi)portunity  to  talk  with  them.  Address- 
ing a  group  of  half  a  dozen  women,  I  said :  "I  have  long 
desired  to  talk  with  you,  as  I  am  confident  you  do  not 
understand  me  in  teaching  this  colored  school.  I  have 
felt  it  my  duty  to  aid  the  most  neglected  class  of  people. 
We  are  apt  to  indulge  in  prejudices  against  certain  classes 
or  nations  of  ixjoplc.  ^Some  people  are  prejudiced  against 
the  German  people.  They  '11  say  he's  nobody  but  a  Dutch- 
man, he's  not  worth  noticing;  and  others  are  prejudiced 
against  the  Irish,  and  will  say,  '  They  are  nobody  but  Irish 
people,  they  are  not  worth  noticing;'  and  others  are  prc- 
juiliced  against  black  people:  'They  are  nobody  but 
negroes,  and  they  arc  not  worth  noticing.  And  then  there 
are  some  who  are  prejudiced  against  soldiers,  or  sailors,  as 
classes  of  men.  People  are  too  apt  to  despise  other  na- 
tions and  classes  of  men.  All  tliis  is  wrong ;  God  made 
us  all  as  it  pleased  him,  and  it  is  not  for  us  to  find  fault 


i, 


,1*' 


J  I  i ; 


!   ; 


184 


».'> 


A   WOMAN'S   LIFE-WORK. 


with  our  Heavenly  Father,  who  loves  all  the  human  fam- 
ily alike.  As  we  aekiKJwledgc  the  fatherhood  of  God,  we 
should  also  acknowledge  the  brotherhood  of  man  in  all 
nations  and  classes." 

Said  one  man  to  his  friend  sitting  l)y,  "  In  faith,  Pat, 
that's  good  doctrine."  "Yes,  indade,  that's  the  doctrine 
Father  Mathew  prachcd,  ye  know."  "Jamie,  that's  all 
right,"  said  another.  One  of  the  women  concluded  she 
would  know  the  truth  of  the  report'^  they  had  gotten  up 
among  themselves. 

"  An'  did  ye  not  marry  a  nagur?" 

"  Why,  no!  my  husband  was  a  white  man,  who  died 
a  number  of  years  ago." 

"And  was  he  a  black  man?" 

"  He  was  a  white  man,  and  he  left  me  with  eight  chil- 
dren, nil  under  age,  and  the  youngest  and  the  oldest  have 
followed  their  father." 

"  In  fath,  ye  've  seen  a  dale  of  trouble,  I  'm  sure ;  and 
we  heard  that  black  man  we  often  saw  comin'  from  schulo 
with  ye  an'  that  yellow  lass  an'  boy  was  your  chilther." 

"That  mulatto  girl  and  boy  live  near  my  boarding- 
place,  and  they  generally  come  and  go  with  me  to  school 
and  return  ;  and  that  black  man  is  a  young  man  who  has 
never  had  the  privilege  of  going  to  school  and  learning  to 
read  and  write  and  the  use  of  figures,  until  I  opened  this 
school.  Now  he  can  read,  write,  and  can  use  figures  to 
good  advantage." 

"  But  it 's  n  pity  we  did  n't  know  ye  before.  AVe  've 
been  heariu'  all  this  about  ye,  an'  not  a  bit  of  it  true. 
Our  people  was  about  to  set  fire  to  your  schule-house — in 
faith,  they  said  they'd  give  ye  a  dressin'  of  tar  an'  tithers, 
an'  our  praste  forbid  it." 

"  I  knew  nothing  of  that,"  said  I;  "  ])ut  I  wanted  you 
to  understand  mo  before  I  left,  which  will  be  in  fom*  weeks. 
Then  they  will  have  a  fine  young  colored  man  from  Ober- 
liu  College  to  teach  their  school." 


■,f  i 


CHRISTIAN   WORK. 


185 


**  But  what  a  pity  that  is,  for  I  'm  sure  they  '11  not  pot 
another  such  a  tacher  as  you.  ludado,  I  'in  sorry  to  hear 
you  're  to  lave  us ;  J  M  like  to  have  my  little  gal  go  to 
your  schulc,  if  ye 'II  take  'er." 

The  man  who  was  the  systematic  rurscr  came  to  his 
door:  "  Indade,  missus,  we  did  n't  know  ye;  an'  now  we'll 
fight  for  ye,  an'  we  are  sorry  we  did  n't  know  ye  for  so 
long." 

When  I  loft  them  I  shook  hands  with  tlnMii  all,  for 
by  the  time  our  conversation  dosed  about  all  tlitir  little 
community  had  convened,  and  1  took  occasion  to  s[)eak 
highly  of  Father  INIathew,  the  great  temperance  reformer 
of  Ireland;  and  my  little  congregation  pronounced  as  strong 
blessings  upon  me  as  they  had  curses.  Even  my  system- 
atic cursor  was  among  my  best  friends  after  that,  and  my 
scholars,  as  well  as  myself,  were  treated  with  the  utmost 
respect  over  after,  and  two  of  them  .«ent  for  me  when  very 
sick  and  not  expected  to  live,  one  of  whom  died  a  few 
days  after.  As  she  was  in  great  distress  of  mind,  I  read 
to  her  some  of  those  precious  promises  of  our  Savior,  Irom 
which  she  drew  great  consolation.  It  would  seem  to  many 
like  casting  pearls  before  swine  to  turn  aside  to  i)resent  the 
truth  to  such  ignorant  and  disliking  people,  but  it  is  ours 
to  obey  these  little  impressions,  and  leave  the  result  witn 
the  All-wise  Director. 

During  my  work  in  Toledo  I  called  on  a  colored 
woman  to  solicit  a  little  change  for  a  very  sick  man  who 
was  very  low  with  consumption,  and  was  being  cared  for 
by  a  very  poor  family,  and  as  she  gave  me  twenty-five  cents 
a  beautiful  white  girl  was  sitting  by,  who  gave  another 
quarter.  After  school  I  called  again  and  inquired  for  that 
young  woman  who  gave  for  that  sick  man,  without  giving 
me  time  to  ask  for  her  mite,  and,  to  my  surprise,  found 
she  was  an  inmate  of  a  house  of  ill-fame,  and  tried  to 
make  Mrs.  Buck  promise  not  to  tell  me  where  she  was  living; 
for  if  I  knew  it  I  would  never  speak  to  her.     1  sent  fur  her 

16 


{    V 


\ 


)• 


u\ 


i',»ki 


3ii 


I 

'1 


til 


r:' 


\i  II 


I 


186 


.,  V 


A   WOMAN  8   LIFE-WORK. 


ft-1 


ll.  ;■ 


to  meet  me  the  foUowinr^  day  after  school,  at  her  house. 
I  found  her  sitting  in  the  parlor  waiting  for  me.  As  I 
took  her  by  the  hand,  placing  the  other  on  her  head,  I  said, 
"IVIy  dear  giil,  you  arc  an  UTdiap])y  child."  And  .she 
burst  into  a  Hood  of  tears,  and  as  socjn  as  she  could  suffi- 
ciently eommand  her  feelings  to  relate  her  history  I  found 
she  was  compelled  by  her  stepfather  to  live  away  from 
home.  She  had  lived  a  year  or  more  with  a  northy  woman, 
who  kei)t  a  boarding-house  in  Cleveland ;  and  there  came 
to  board  a  few  weeks  a  fine  appearing  yoimg  man,  who 
professed  grv.-at  affection  for  her,  and  proposed  marriage. 
He  told  her  his  father  was  a  very  wealthy  merchant  in 
Toledo,  and  he  was  there  on  business  for  his  father.  After 
he  had  won  her  affections  he  proposed  to  take  her  to  To- 
ledo, and  i)lace  her  in  a  boarding-house  until  she  could 
make  up  two  rich  silk  dresses  and  other  clothing  suitable 
for  her,  as  he  was  not  willing  his  folks  should  know  he  was 
marrying  a  poor  girl.  He  could  easily  take  a  dress  pat- 
tern from  each  bolt  of  silk  and  his  father  never  know  it, 
and  any  other  goods  she  needed.  As  his  father  was  going 
to  New  York  for  a  new  supply  of  goods,  he  wouhl  sui)i)ly 
her  Avith  other  goods  to  make  up  until  his  father's  new 
goods  came,  then  he  would  hire  a  dressmaker  to  make  up 
her  silk  dresses.  All  this  she  fully  believed,  as  from  a 
true  and  faithful  lover,  to  whom  she  had  given  her  heart's 
best  and  purest  affections.  She  said,  "A  number  of  days 
I  hesitated,  becau.se  I  wanted  to  tell  my  mother  all  about 
it;  but  he  i)ersisted  in  leaving  Cleveland  secretly,  and 
return  on  our  bridal  trip  to  surprise  my  mother  and  that 
cruel  stepfather.  At  last  I  foolishly  consented,  to  my  ruin 
and  sorrow,  for  I  havn't  seen  one  moment  of  j^eace  since 
I  was  deserted  by  that  man ;"  and  again  bathed  herself 
in  tears.  Recovering  herself,  she  continued,  '*I  wouldn't 
have  my  mother  know  this  for  the  world.  She  is  a  good 
Christian  woman.  She's  a  Methodist,  and  has  seen  a  sight 
of  trouble  with  my  stepfather ;  and,  if  she  knew  this,  it 


lU-SCUKI)    FROM   SriAMK. 


187 


> 


would  break  her  heart.**  Ou  further  inquiry  I  found 
he  brought  her  to  this  house  as  an  excuse  to  keep 
her  scchided  uutil  they  were  about  to  be  married,  when 
he  would  pay  her  b(jard  a  few  days  in  the  iinest  hotel  in 
the  city.  "The  next  '\,.y  alter  oi:r  arrival  he  brought  me 
a  bcautifid  Itiwn  'Iress-patteru  and  a  package  of  otlier  ma- 
terial for  me  to  make  up  while  waiting  fur  his  fatlier's 
goods.  A '.id  not  till  then  had  he  offered  in  word  or  act 
any  tlii  ig  amiss  from  a  iK?rfcct  gentleman.  It  was  tlio 
next  day  afler  our  arrival  in  this  city,  and  to  this  house, 
that  he  pioposcd  to  live  two  weeks  as  if  we  were  married, 
as  it  would  be  about  a  week  or  two  at  longest  when  the 
goods  would  be  here,  and  he  would  get  one  of  two  dress- 
makers to  prepare  me  for  my  wedding.  I  cried  two  days 
over  this  proposition,  and  by  this  time  I  had  learned  the 
character  of  this  house.  Here  I  wa.s,  a  stranger  to  every 
body,  but  still  had  confidence  in  my  new  friend;  and  again, 
to  my  bitter  sorrow,  I  yielded.  But  day  after  day  of  anx- 
ious waiting  passed  until  two  weeks  expircd,  and  no  new 
goods  yet;  but  another  lawn  dress-pattern  came  for  mc  to 
make  fur  myself,  and  another  two  weeks  rolled  away  with 
only  hearing  (he  said)  that  the  goxls  were  on  the  way. 
But  at  the  close  of  the  third  two  weeks  he  was  mishiilg. 
Daily  I  waited  his  coming.  At  length  I  went  on  the  street. 
I  inquired  for  his  name  and  the  name  of  his  liither's  store, 
when,  to  my  utter  astonishment,  no  such  storc  or  names 
were  fjund  in  the  city.  Here  in  a  strange  j)lace,  deserted, 
ruined,  and  filled  with  shame,  I  had  no  heart  to  go  to  my 
i'lieuds."  She  had  been  here  six  months.  I  advised  her 
not  to  remain  in  this  house  aucjthcr  twenty-four  hours. 
"But  what  shall  I  do?  IVIi-s.  Cassaday  will  lock  me 
up  if  she  knows  I  am  going  to  leave  her.  8he  called  me  a 
fool  for  giving  you  that  quarter;  she  says  these  Chris- 
tians are  down  on  us;  and  if  any  of  us  slxxdd  die,  there 
would  n't  one  of  them  come  to  pray  for  us,  I  told  lier  I 
Ixilieved  you  would."     I  told  her  to  pack  her  trunk,  and 


I 


1 


1 


'V'W 


•■ii 


r- 


I  ■  1 


,1. 


I 


[I 

f 


'•1  '■> 


I 


l.ss 


A    WOMAN  .S    LII'i:-W()HK. 


if  hilio  was  down  town  near  tlie  time  for  the  boat  to 
leave  for  Cleveland,  to  call  a  drayman  to  take  her  trunk 
to  the  boat  and  follow  it,  if  i)o.ssibie,  before  Mrs.  Cassaday 
came  in.  1  toKl  her  how  to  manage  in  going  to  her  old 
employer,  and  to  tell  her  you  were  deceived  by  that  young 
man,  but  you  lound  him  untruthful.  "As  you  wiy  Mrs. 
Ca.s.<aday  kept  you  sewing  ino>t  of  the  time,  you  can  toll 
her  y(»u  were  employed  mosst  of  tic  time  in  sewing;  but 
do  not,  at  present,  tell  her  or  your  mtther  of  the  life  you 
have  lived,  and  place  of  your  residence  while  here."  Sho 
l)romised  she  wtuld  gladly  take  my  advice,  and  leave  for 
Cleveland  the  first  opportniity.  As  we  parted  she  leaned 
her  head  upon  my  shoulder,  with  last  drojjping  teal's,  and 
said,  "I  shall  always  thank  you  for  acting  the  part  of  a 
mother  in  heljjing  me  away  from  this  horrible  place." 
The  following  njorning  she  called  to  leave  word  with  ]Mrs. 
Buck,  that  fortunately  for  her  i\Ir.s.  Cassaday  was  out  just 
in  time  f  )r  her  to  call  a  drayman,  that  had  just  gone  with 
her  trunk  to  the  boat,  and  she  was  now  ou  her  way  to 
Clevclaiul,  hnpi)ior  than  she  had  been  in  six  months,  and 
that  she  slu^d  1  do,  in  all  respects,  as  I  had  advised.  Here 
was  a  beautiful  girl  decoyed  and  led  from  the  paths  of  vir- 
tue by  an  artful,  desiging,  and  licentious  young  mau,  who 
basely  sought  her  ruin  by  winning  the  aflections  of  au 
innocent  girl.  Hundreds  and  thousands  of  these  girls  are 
in  like  manner  led  astray,  and  might  be  saved  if  mothers 
in  Israel  would  take  them  by  the  hand  of  .sympathy  and 
lift  thorn  from  the  mire  of  this  moral  pollution. 

At  another  time  a  request  was  kft  with  my  hostess  to  go 
to  see  a  very  sick  woman,  who  was  tlvHight  nigh  unto  death; 
but  for  a  little  girl  that  heard  the  request  I  should  not  have 
received  it.  She  said,  these  poor  white  trash  would  curse 
me  in  health,  and  when  they  thought  they  were  going  to 
die,  they  wore  ready  ihen  to  send  for  me  to  pray  for  them ; 
and,  as  I  was  tired  enough  to  rest  after  teaching  all  day, 
she  did  not  think  I  ought  to  go  for  their  calls.     I  told  her 


J 


VISITS   OF   MERCV. 


ISO 


if  she  would  1)C  so  kiiul  as  to  deliver  all  errands  of  that 
eharactcr  I  would  be  very  thankful,  and  haslened  tt)  the 
be(bide  of  an  old  soldier  of  the  eross,  who,  with  her  aged 
companion,  were  visiting  their  children.  She  said  she  (hd 
not  expect  to  remain  much  longer  in  this  world  of  check- 
ered scenes;  hut  her  son  had  been  hero  a  short  lime 
only,  and  had  not  formed  any  ac(iuaintances  among  Cliris- 
tian  i)eoi)lc,  and  their  hired  girl  said  "she  was  passing  your 
seh(K)l-housc  one  morning  and  heard  you  opening  your 
school  with  prayer,  and  I  told  her  to  find  your  boarding- 
place,  and  leave  word  I'or  you  to  come  after  your  school 
closed,  as  I  wanted  to  hoar  the  voice  of  pniyer  once  more." 
I  read  a  chapter  and  offered  prayer  by  her  bedside.  She 
and  her  weeping  husband  and  children  thanked  me  for  the 
call,  and  desired  mc  to  call  the  day  following,  after '.scho(U. 
I  foun<l  her  somewhat  improved,  and  the  next  door  neigh- 
bor said  Dutch  Mary  wa^  in  the  adjoining  room,  and 
seemed  much  affected,  and  said  that  was  the  first  she  heard 
read  from  the  Bible  in  seven  years,  and  the  fir.st  prayer 
she  had  heard  iu  that  time,  and  she  would  be  glad  to  see 
nic,  but  she  would  not  disgrace  nie  by  coming  to  her 
house.  Then  the  woman  told  her  she  woidd  ask  me  to  see 
her  iu  her  room,  and  send  for  her  wheu  I  came  to  see  the 
sick  woman. 

I  met  her  in  great  distress  of  mind.  She  told  me  of 
the  wicked  life  she  had  spent  during  the  last  seven  yeai*H 
of  her  widowhood,  and  wanted  to  know  if  I  thought  there 
was  any  hope  whatever  for  her.  "  Do  you  think  CJod  can 
forgive  me?  I  have  never  .so  much  as  oiKiied  my  l>ible 
that  lies  in  the  bottom  of  my  chest  all  the.'ie  .seven  yeais, 
until  ycsterdav  I  went  home  and  took  mv  Bible  for  the 
first  time  to  read  in  the.se  years;  and  I  felt  .so  condemned 
after  I  read  awhile  that  I  laid  it  back,  and  did  n't  know 
whether  it  was  of  any  use ;  for  I  have  lived  su(.'h  a 
wretched  life  .so  long  I  doubt  whether  God  can  forgive  me, 
for  I  feel  worse  and  worse.     Do  you  belic^ve  he  eanV" 


,.?i  y 


WW 


;Prh 


ii". 

mm 


w 


!■■ 


'    \ 


190 


A   woman's  LIFP:-W()UK. 


"  Ccrtaiuly  he  is  al)le  to  save  to  tlic  uttermost.  It  is 
the  eulighteuiug  iufliience  of  God's  Holy  Spirit  that  is 
showing  you  tlie  execeding  sinfiihiess  of  sin." 

I  reatl  to  her  the  readiness  of  the  Lord  Jesus  to  forgive 
sin.  "How  ready  to  bless  the  humble  and  contrite  heart! 
Only  believe  this  with  all  thy  heart,  and  the  blood  of 
Jesus  is  sufHeient  to  wasli  away  every  sUiin  that  sin  has 
made.  Though  they  be  as  scarlet,  he  will  make  them 
white  as  snow."  We  knelt  together,  and  she  too  ofiered 
earnest  prayer  for  strength  to  live  the  new  life,  'fthicli  she 
firmly  resolved  to  do. 

I  saw  her  a  week  later,  and  she  said  she  informed  those 
incn  with  whom  she  had  connnitted  those  darkest  of  sins 
of  her  firm  resolution  to  live  a  virtuous  life,  and  she  locked 
her  door ;  but  they  persisted  in  trouljling  her  through  the 
night,  threatening  to  tear  her  house  down  or  biu'u  it. 

"  Three  nights  I  suffered  from  them.  But  by  constant 
prayer,  believing  God  would  take  care  of  me,  I  was  de- 
li vend  from  them.  And  I  have  plenty  of  washing,  iron- 
ing, and  house-cleaning  tf>  do ;  and  I  get  along  so  much 
better  than  I  expected  I  could.  I  do  want  to  go  to  meet- 
ing ;  but  so  many  know  of  my  wicked  life  I  am  afraid  to 
go  inside  of  a  church." 

I  told  her  to  go  to  whichever  Church  she  felt  most  at 
home,  and  the  Lord  woidd  open  the  way  for  her,  and 
enable  her  to  bring  up  her  little  girl  of  eight  ycai-s  in  the 
nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord. 

At  the  close  of  my  school  I  lefl  this  field,  so  white  to  the 
^  harvest,  to  enter,  as  I  sup[)Osed,  u^hju  a  field  of  home  mis- 
sions. At  the  expiration  of  a  year  I  visited  Toledo,  and 
inquired  of  one  who  occa.sionally  emj)loyed  Dutch  IMary, 
but  knew  nothing  of  my  experience  with  her,  how  she  was 
prospering.  The  cheering  reply  was,  "  S[)lendidly ;  I 
have  n't  heard  a  disparaging  word  of  her  fgr  montlis,  and 
there  used  to  be  hard  stories  about  her."  1  heanl  she  had 
united  with  the  liaplist  Church,  and  1  think  she  is  trying 


SAVFD. 


to  live  a  Christian.     If  slic  liad  not  left  tow 
her  friends  I  should  1 


191 


n  on  a  visit  to 


uivc  seen  iier,  but  the  repf-rt  I  heard 
of  her  was  heart-chccrin^ir.  May  God  bless  lier,  and  all 
^vho  are  receiving  life-giving  power  who  were  dead  iu 
tresj)ai5sesj  and  siu. 


, I  t* 


'•  I 


192 


A    WOMA.X  S   LIFE-WORK 


y 


i;i   f. 


.1 ' 


11 


Chapter  VIII. 

FUGITIVES  IN   CANADA. 

While  visitin<^  friends  in  Detroit  and  Canada  previous 
to  reopeninj,'  Raisin  Institute,  as  I  designed,  I  Avas  earnestly 
solicited  by  Henry  Bibb,  Horace  Hallack,  and  Rev.  Chas. 
C.  Foote,  the  coniniittec  authorized  to  employ  a  teacher, 
to  open  a  school  in  a  new  settlement  of  fugitives,  eight 
miles  back  of  Windsor,  where  the  Refugee  Association  had 
purchased  government  laud,  ou  long  aud  easy  terms,  for 
fugitive  slaves. 

They  had  erected  a  frame  house  for  school  and  meeting 
purposes.  Tiie  settlers  had  built  for  themselves  small  log- 
houses,  and  cleared  from  one  to  five  acres  each  on  their 
heavily  timbered  land,  and  raised  corn,  jjotatocs,  and  other 
garden  vegetables.  A  few  had  i)ut  in  two  and  three  acres 
of  wheat,  and  were  doing  well  for  their  first  year. 

After  prayerful  consideration,  I  reached  the  conclusion 
to  defer  for  another  year  my  home  worlc,  and  enter  this 
new  held. 

In  the  Autunm  of  1852  I  opened  school,  and  gave  no- 
tice that  at  eleven  o'clock  the  following  Sunday  there 
would  be  a  Sabbath-school  for  parents  aud  children,  after 
which  a  little  time  would  be  spent  in  other  religious  exer- 
cises, pursuing  the  sanie  course  I  did  in  Toledo,  Ohio.  This 
drew  a  number  of  callers  who  had  no  children  to  see  if  any 
could  come  to  my  Sabbath-school ;  and  when  I  told  them 
it  was  for  every  body  of  any  age  who  desired  to  come,  my 
school-house  was  filled  to  its  utmost  capacity.  IMany  fre- 
quently came  five  or  six  miles  with  their  ox-teams  to  attend 
these  meetings,  with  their  families.  Every  man,  woman, 
and  child   who  could  read  a  verse  in  the  Testament,  even 


I 


A  MARRIAGE. 


19:^ 


with  assistance,  took  part  in  reading  the  lesson,  and  liberty 
was  given  to  ask  qnostions.  It  was  not  strange  to  listen 
to  many  crude  ideas;  hut  a  more  earnest,  truth -scei<ing 
congregation  we  seldom  find.  An  aged  couple,  past  eighty, 
missed  very  tew  Sabbaths  during  the  year  I  spent  there. 
The  man  was  a  fugitive  slave,  and  his  comi)anion  was  an 
Indian  woman,  converted  under  the  preaching  of  a  mis- 
sionary among  the  Indians.  She  had  taken  great  pains  to 
talk  and  understand  the  Euirlish  lan^uajie,  and  was  an 


a^f 


Hitercstuig  woman. 


As  there  was  an  increasing  interest  both  in  day  and 
Sabbath-schools,  I  gave  liberty  for  all  who  wislied  to  enjoy 
a  sort  of  class  or  inrpiiry  meeting,  following  half  an  hour's 
service  for  exhortation  after  Sabbath-school. 

One  coui)le  desired  a  private  interview  with  me,  as  they 
had  been  married  only  after  "slave  fashion."    Tlu>y  said: 

"It  is  not  right  to  live  this  way  in  a  free  country. 
Now  we  wants  you  to  marry  us." 

"I  am  not  legally  authorized,"  I  said;  "but  I  will 
send  a  note  to  brother  Foote,  and  he  will  come  at  once  and 
marry  you  legally." 

"  We  thought  you  preached,  an'  made  notes  for  us,  an' 
could  help  us  out  in  dis  matter  too." 

Charles  C.  Foote  came,  and  we  called  at  their  house  at 
the  appointed  time,  with  a  few  neighbors,  to  witness  the 
solemnization  of  the  marriage  that  would  have  been  ac- 
complished three  years  before  had  they  looked  at  these 
things  from  the  same  stand-point  they  now  did. 

A  few  days  after  another  coui)le  came  on  the  same  er- 
rand.    Said  this  man  : 

"  We  wants  you  an'  INIr.  Foote  to  marry  us,  case  we 's 
bin  troui)led  'bout  dis  many  days,  case  we  wa'  n't  gwine  to 
let  nobody  know  it;  but  God  knows  all  'bout  us,  an'  now 
we's  free  indeed,  we  wants  every  thing  straight." 

"  But  why  do  you  put  me  with  Mr.  Foole,"  I  asked, 
"  to  marry  you?" 

17 


I:  if 


•'4 


fM 


194 


A  woman's  lii'i:-work. 


>J 


"  Did  n't  you  an'  Mr.  Foote  marry  dat  brother  an 
sister  week  afore  las'?" 

"No;   only  brother  Foote." 

"lirother  Foote  rei)eate(l  the  questions,"  they  answered ; 
"then  he  pronouneed  thcin  husband  and  v.ii'e  ;  then  they 
Avere  inai'ried  aeeordini^  to  law.  But  he  axt  you  to  pray 
after  he  said  deni  words." 

In  all  this  ifj^norance  they  were  like  confiding  grown-up 
children,  patiently  listening  to  every  explanation. 

The  unbounded  confidence  they  placed  in  nie  was  sur- 
j)rising;  for  they  often  l)n)Ught  their  business  ])apers  for 
me  to  examine,  to  see  whether  they  were  right.  One  man 
brought  me  a  note,  as  the  employer  could  not  pay  hiiu  for 
his  work  in  money.  lie  said  it  was  a  n()te  for  groceries; 
but  the  grocer  refused  to  take  it,  and  said  it  was  not  good. 
I  told  liini  there  was  neither  date  nor  name  to  it.  I  wrote 
the  man  a  letter,  asking  him  to  rectify  the  mistake,  which  ho 
did;  but  he  gave  his  em])loyee  credit  for  only  half  the  days 
he  had  worked.  They  were  so  often  deceived  and  cheated 
in  many  ways,  because  of  their  extreme  ignorance,  that  I 
did  not  wonder  at  the  conclusion  one  escaped  fugitive  had 
reached,  llir  master  was  a  Presbyterian  minister,  but  he  had 
known  him  .o  whip  his  sister,  the  cook,  after  coming  home 
from  Church  ;  and  he  said  then  he  never  would  have  faith 
in  white  folks'  religion.  Since  coming  to  this  colony  ho 
watched  me  a  long  while  before  he  made  up  his  mind  that 
white  people  could  have  a  j)ure  religion.  But  now  he  be- 
lieved "  that  the  Lord  hid  his  Spirit  in  the  hearts  of  white 
people  at  the  North;  but  it  was  a  make-believe  in  slave- 
hohlers." 

I  was  surjirised  one  day  to  meet  the  mother  of  three 
of  my  scholars,  who  gave  her  thrilling  ex[)erience  in  her 
escape  from  slavery;  but  she  had  little  more  than  com- 
menced her  story  before  I  found  her  to  be  one  for  whom 
1  laid  a  [)lan  with  her  sister,  who  had  bought  herself.  As 
I  named  a  circumstance,  she  exclaimed  in  surprise,  "  Why 


FUGITIVES   LEARNING    TO    WHITE. 


lOo 


honey!  is  (lis  possible?  God  sent  you  here  to  larn  my 
guLs  to  read,  au'  we  did  n"t  know  you,"  and  tears  began  to 
drop  tlueker  and  faster,  as  she  recounted  the  bhssings  that 
had  multiplied  since  her  arrival  in  Canada.  She  had  in 
the  three  years  worked  i'or  a  little  home.  Her  two  oldrr 
girls  were  at  work,  and  they  were  all  so  happy  in  their 
freedom. 

These  fugitives  often  came  five  or  six  miles  f)r  me  to 
write  letters  to  their  friends  in  the  South,  with  whom  they 
left  a  secret  arrangement  very  freciuently  with  white  peo- 
ple who  were  their  iriends,  but  secretly,  for  fear  of  the 
riding  power,  as  were  the  discii)les  of  Christ  who  feared 
the  Jews.  Their  notes,  or  articles  of  agreement,  were  gen- 
erally bnmght  to  me  to  draft  for  them. 

In  six  weeks  of  steadv  attendance  fifteen  voiniff  men 
and  women  could  read  the  second  reader,  and  write  a  le<:i- 
ble  hand,  and  draft  a  negotiable  note.  I  took  a  specimen 
of  a  ninnberof  my  scholars'  hand-writing  to  an  anti-slavery 
convention  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  lei't  a  few  with  the 
Rev.  John  G.  Fee,  whose  life  had  been  threatened  if  he 
did  not  desist  from  preaching  a  I'ree  gospel  in  his  homo 
►State — Kentucky.  But  the  brave  Cassius  M.  Clay  told 
him  to  go  on,  and  he  would  go  with  him.  He  went  to 
one  })lacc  from  whence  he  had  received  rejieated  threats, 
and  trouble  "was  anticipated ;  but  Cassius  walked  into  the 
church  by  bis  side,  and  ])laced  the  Constituuon  of  the 
United  States  on  the  Bil)le,  and  over  both  his  brace  of 
])istols,  with  which  he  informed  the  au<lience  he  should 
j)rotcct  free  speech.  At  the  same  time  he  cast  a  glance  at 
the  threatening  group  in  a  farther  corner,  who  left  one  by 
one,  until  the  chiu'ch  was  cleared  of  all  but  eager  listeners. 
Brother  Fee  said  his  object  in  rerpiesting  these  sj)ecimens 
of  the  fugitives  writing  was  to  exhibit  to  those  who  wen; 
constantly  asserting  that  negroes  could  not  learn.  He 
wished  them  to  sec  the  legil)le  hand-writing  of  those  who 
had  only  six  weeks'  training  fronj  their  alphabet. 


1 


,11;  V  r 


IJi 


1 


190 


A   woman's  LIFE-WOUK. 


iv. 


<   i 


fC)  After  spoiuling  a  few  <lays'  v.acation,  I  roturnod  to  tlie 

t()iliii<f  (liiy  ami  ui-j-lit  in  mv  school.  A.s  tluTe  were  twelve 
lioads  of  iainilies  anxious  ti»  rouil  the  Bible  ami  hymn-book, 
and  this  seemed  to  be  the  height  of  their  ambition,  I 
opened  an  evening  school  for  that  class.  It  was  steadily 
attended  four  evenings  in  each  week,  and  this,  with  one 
evening  devoted  to  prayer-meeting,  fdled  the  week,  leav- 
ing only  one  evening  free ;  and  fre(|uently  they  came  with 
their  ox-teams  to  take  nic  three  miles  to  lead  a  prayer- 
meeting  for  them  in  an  adjoining  settlement. 

The  Winter  was  quite  severe,  and  I  fre(jucntly  was 
awakened  with  the  snow  sifting  in  my  face,  and  not  un- 
fre(juently  found  the  snow  half  an  inch  or  more  deep  over 
my  bed  on  rising  in  the  morning;  but  mv  health  was 
firm,  and  I  often  thought  I  never  enjoyed  a  year  of  toil- 
ing bettor  than  the  one  I  spent  here. 

There  were  in  this  colony  a  mixed  religious  clement — 
Baptist,  Methodist,  Presbyterian,  and  Free-will  Baptist — 
deeply  interested  in  Sabbath-schools  and  class-meetings, 
open  to  all  who  wished  to  enjoy  them.  An  organization 
was  i)roposcd.  The  proposition  came  from  the  Methodist 
element,  but  I  did  not  deem  it  wise  to  >  rganize  from  any 
one  denomination,  as  divergent  o])inions  would  create  con- 
troversy that  would  bring  harm  to  many  tender  minds, 
(.'onsequently  I  proposed  to  organize  a  Christian  Union 
Church,  without  disturbing  the  Church  relationship  of  any 
one.  I  prepared  an  extract  from  Gcrrit  Smith's  concise 
plan  of  oi'ganizing,  on  a  liberal  .scale,  a  Christian  Union 
Church,  with  but  little  change,  and  read  it  to  them;  and, 
after  a  little  discussion  and  explanation  it  was  readily 
adopted.  I  think  the  nund)er  of  new  converts  was  thir- 
teen, who  expressed  a  desire  to  be  baptized  by  immersion. 
I  exhorted  them  to  attend  to  their  own  religious  impres- 
sions, as  I  was  not  there  to  present  particular  religious 
tenets,  but  to  present  the  crucified,  risen,  and  glorified 
Savior.     Brother  Foote  canjc  and  complied  with  their  wish. 


A  SAD   HISTORY. 


197 


I  clij.scd  my  evcuing  school  two  weeks  to  hold  a  series 
of  meetings,  iu  which  a  young  Baptist  l)rother  as>iste<h 
AVe  all  eontimied  to  work  together  for  the  highest  good  of 
all  around  us. 

I  noticed  a  settled  sadncf^s  in  the  countenance  of  a 
young  man  of  twenty-five  years,  recently  from  Missouri. 
During  recess  he  took  l)ut  little  interest  in  any  thing  out- 
side of  his  book  or  writing  lesson.  After  attending  my 
school  a  few  days  he  invited  me  to  go  to  his  Ijoard- 
ing-place  to  spend  the  uight,  as  he  wished  me  to  write  a 
letter  for  him.  1  found  his  history  was  a  sad  one.  lie 
was  sold  from  his  wife  and  four  little  children  to  satisfy  a 
heavy  del)t.  The  master  tried  to  reason  uith  him,  and 
said  the  man  he  owed  would  not  take  any  of  his  slaves  hut 
him.  lie  called  him  jiside  to  have  further  conversation 
concerning  the  proposed  sale ;  his  wife  presented  herself 
also  to  plead  that  I.'  oy  might  not  bo  separated.  Both 
knelt  before  him,  beseeching  with  tears  to  allow  them  to 
remain  together.  Said  he,  "  I  tole  'im  I'd  serve  'ini  faith- 
fully all  the  days  of  my  life,  if  he'd  only  let  us  live 
together;  and  he  seemed  to  give  way  a  little,  and  said  he 
did  uot  want  to  sell  me,  as  I  was  his  foreman,  and  he 
thought  he  would  make  other  arrangements.  I  watched 
him  closely  as  I  had  but  little  conlidence  in  his  words,  and 
armed  myself  with  a  dirk.  One  day  he  called  me  to  go  to 
the  woods  with  him,  to  show  me  the  trees  he  wanted 
chopped.  As  I  was  going  I  saw  the  end  of  a  yo\)C  under 
his  coat-skirt.  I  kept  at  a  reasoualjle  distance  all  the  way, 
and  when  we  came  to  the  tree  he  wanted  I  should  chop, 
he  attempted  to  come  near  me  and  I  stood  back ;  then  he 
told  me  plainly  I  must  yield.  I  said  I  never  would  per- 
mit myself  to  leave  my  family,  and,  if  he  was  so  deter- 
mined, I  should  never  be  of  any  use  to  any  one,  for  life  to 
me  was  of  no  value  if  I  am  to  be  taken  from  mv  wife  and 
four  little  chihlreu.  At  this  he,  with  the  other  man,  who 
came  out  of  the  bushes,  ran  towards  me,  but  I  outran 


il!' '. 

IS! 


1 1  mi 

M  if 

1 1  H 


It 


108 


A    WOMAN'S    LIPM>WORK. 


'*u: 


Q 


them.  About  seven  miles  distant  lie  overtook  mc  Avitli  a 
nujuher  ot  his  slave  men,  and  told  me  I  had  to  pive  up. 
I  flourished  my  dirk  and  told  them  that  I  would  kill  the 
first  man  that  touehed  me,  or  tliey  should  kill  me.  At  this 
they  all  stood  back  cxee|)t  the  master  himself.  lie  flour- 
ished his  bowie-knife  and  I  my  dirk,  for  the  spaee  of  a 
few  minutes,  when  he  made  a  rush  upon  me,  and  he  met 
my  dirk  before  I  met  his  bowie-knife.  As  lie  fill  l)aek  I 
ran  for  the  woods.  In  the  darkness  of  the  night  I  made 
my  last  visit  to  my  wife  and  little  children." 

Here  ho  became  convulsed  with  weeping.  When  he 
could  command  his  feelings  to  pursue  the  sad  story, 
he  said: 

"Oh,  that  was  an  awful  parting!  The  moment  I  en- 
tered my  wife's  cabin  she  threw  her  arms  around  my  neck, 
exclaiming,  'Oh,  my  dear  Bill,  don't  stay  a  minute,  for 
they  say  you've  killed  Master  Riggs.  They  say  he  was 
dyin'  this  evenin',  and  he's  dead  afore  this  time,  I  reckon, 
an'  they  swear  vengeance  on  you.  Some  said  they'd  chop 
you  in  pieces — some  said  they  'd  burn  you  alive.'  I  told  her 
if  God  would  helj)  mc  to  Canada  I  would  write  after  awhile 
to  her  father  (he  was  free,  having  bought  himself),  and 
may  be  he  could  manage  to  send  her  and  our  children  to 
me;  and  I  tore  her  arms  from  my  neck." 

Again  he  was  overcome  with  grief.  I  advised  him  not 
to  write  at  present.  I  never  saw  a  more  grief-stricken 
man.  He  was  boarding  with  Henry  Bibb's  mother,  who 
said  she  knew  he  was  a  man  of  deep  trouble,  "for  he 
looked  so  sad  and  groaned  so  much  nights;  but  I  could  n't 
bear  to  ask  him,  because  I  thought  it  would  be  harder  for 
him  to  forget  it."  Having  been  a  slave  herself,  she  could 
easily  anticipate  the  cause  of  his  sadness.  Notwithstand- 
ing this,  he  made  fair  progress  in  reading,  writing,  and 
arithmetic  in  one  term.  During  this  time  vigorous  efforts 
were  put  forth  for  his  capture. 

While  I  enjoyed  my  work  so  mucli  with  these  people  in 


NEW    ARRIVAI/?. 


199 


the  woods,  in  pohools,  in  inootiiic;?,  and  in  tlicr  improve- 
luonts  jL^euerally,  I  do  not  say  1  linind  with  them  lUTtcctioii. 
TluTt'  W(MV  caiisos  for  reproof  aa  well  as  of  encourage- 
iiient.  They  made  trrcat  e(!ort  to  improve  tlieir  lu)mes  by 
taking  trees  from  their  woods  to  the  .snv-mills  to  he  cut  np 
into  hoards  i'or  hetu-r  floors  than  split  l<»gs,  ami  for  parti- 
tions to  make  their  little  houses  more  eonifortahle.  Per- 
haps their  im})rovement.s  could  not  lind  better  expression 
than  the  report  of  one  of  our  neighbors,  \u  reply  to  an 
in(piiry  of  a  friend  in  Detroit,  as  to  how  they  wvw  pros- 
pering in  their  refugee  colony.  "  Fine,  fine ;  we've  all  come 
to  life,  an' are  in  a  strite  to  see  who'll  make  the  bes' 
house." 

Freijuent  arrivals  of  their  friends  from  slavery  often 
})ro(luced  much  excitement.  At  one  time  a  company  of 
twenty-seven  arrived,  brought  by  John  P^iirfield,  a  Vir- 
ginian. He  often  went  into  the  heart  of  .slave-holding 
8tates  and  brought  com])anies  away,  ])assing  himself  as 
their  owner  until  they  reached  a  free  State,  lie  tele- 
graphed some  friends  in  Windsor,  and  a  dimier  of  reception 
was  provided  in  one  of  the  colored  churches,  and  a  great 
jubilee  meeting  was  held.  One  very  old  woman,  betwi-en 
eighty  and  ninety  years  old,  shouted  as  she  jumped  around 
among  the  people,  "  I 's  young  again,  (ilory!  glory! 
Jesus  is  our  jNIaster  for  evermore,  honey,"  shaking  hands 
"with  the  new-comers.  "Glory  to  Jesus!  I 's  sixteen  ;"  and 
she  dapixid  her  hands  as  she  gave  another  leap.  Said  John 
Fairfield,  "This  pays  me  f)r  all  dangers  I  have  facetl  in 
bringing  this  company,  just  to  see  these  old  friends  meet." 

Our  young  brother  ('ami)l)ell,  the  licentiate  Baptist 
minister  who  had  labored  with  us  in  our  series  of  meetings  a 
lew  months  jn-eviously,  returned,  and  with  the  three  Baptist 
families  in  that  community  conceived  tlu^  idea  that  as  I  was 
soon  to  leave,  they  could  organize  a  Jiaptist  Ohiirch,  and 
induce  nearly  all  in  that  colony  to  unite;  and  they  went 
to  work  industriously  to  secure  the  individual  consent  uf 


^r- 


m 


m 

0 


I  i 
t 


I  ■ 


I 


' 


■'  I 


200 


A  woman's  i.ifk-woric. 


our  Christian  Union  members;  but  tbo  j)liiu  was,  witli 
one  accord,  rejected,  cxcei)t  by  our  Baptist  fri(!iids.  An 
they  said  nothing  to  me  concerning  it,  each  <hiy  brought 
some  comj)laint.s  ul)out  iheir  organizing  a  liaptirft  Clnirch 
"over  our  heads,"  as  a  nund>cr  expressed  themselves.  Ihit 
I  toKl  tliem  "n(»t  to  feel  hurt  over  their  desire  to  organi/o 
Ji  Baptist  Church.  AVc  will  give  way  lor  them  to  occupy 
half  the  time."  Brother  !Maglothin,  who  had  just  conio 
with  his  liimilv  from  Viririnia,  was  an  earnest  Christian 
man  and  a  licensed  Wesh'van  minister,  and  he  was  ready 
to  take  my  place  in  keeping  up  our  Subbath-schouls  and 
meetings. 

Kev.  N.  P.  Colvcr,  of  Detroit,  had  appointed  the  Sab- 
bath to  meet  the  iViends  in  our  schoobhouse,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  organizing  a  Baptist  Church  and  of  ordaining  br<»ther 
Campbell  tv)  taki;  charge;  of  it.  I  told  all  of  our  peojile  to 
be  snre  and  attend  it  with  me.  As  I  retired  on  the  night 
j)r{!vious  to  till'  proposed  meeting,  I  read  the  sweet  promise 
of  the  loving  Savior,  "I  will  be  with  you  to  the  end,"  with 
an  assurance  of  entire  trust. 

The  hour  arrived,  and  our  house  was  well  fdlcd,  but 
with  many  saddened  faces.  Brother  Colver  gave  a  slu)rt 
discourse,  and  ordained  brother  Campludl,  who  was  left  in 
charge  of  the  liaptist  branch  of  the  little  ilock.  At  the  close 
of  the  exercises  I  remarked  that  I  hoj)ed  we  would  all  man- 
ifest the  same  abiding  interest  in  each  other's  spiritual  and 
temporal  well-being  as  we  had  heretofore  done ;  that  there 
was  a  tair  understanding  l)etween  the  brethren  and  sisters 
that  every  other  Sabbath  was  to  be  occupied  by  brother 
^laglothin,  thus  alternating  with  brother  Cami)bell ;  and 
as  the  next  Sabbath  woidd  be  my  last  for  the  j)resent  with 
them,  it  would  be  my  duty  to  explain  tb.e  basis  upon 
which  our  Christian  ITuion  Church  was  organized.  My 
earnest  and  constant  prayer  was  and  ever  would  be, 
whether  present  or  absent,  that  the  love  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  would  ever  dwell  richly  in  eaidi  heart  of  his 


CllUnni    OUfiANIZATIOX. 


201 


followers  in  that  coniiminity,  with  whom  I  had  spent  a 
year  that  I  could  class  with  the  most  pleasant  of  my  life. 

The  following  Suhhath  found  our  house  well  fdlctl. 
After  f^iugiui,'  an  appropriate  hynni,  and  prayiT,  I  read 
1  Coriuthiau.s  iii,  with  remarks;  after  wliieh  I  read  tlus 
license  from  the  Wesleyau  ^lethodist  Conterenee,  aekuowl- 
c(lgin<^  a  (jualilication  to  preach  the  (Jospel  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  In  it  was  {granted  liherty  to  organize  a 
company  of  believers  into  a  Church  ;  and  I  presented  our 
articles  of  agreement  to  build  each  other  up  in  the  unity 
of  the  Spirit  and  in  the  bonds  of  ]>eace,  regardless  of 
name,  in  this  "  Christian  Union  Church."  To  this  we  all 
assented  without  a  jar,  and  some  of  our  Baptist  brethren 
present  voted  in  favor. 

At  this  their  minister  arose  with  an  acknowledgment 
that  he  had  not  understood  the  foundation  of  this  oigan- 
izalion  before,  and  regretted  very  much  what  he  had  said 
against  it,  and  would  ask  pardon  of  all  these  biethren  and 
sisters  and  of  myself.  Before  I  had  an  opportunity  to 
reply  their  deacon  and  another  f)llowed,  asking  pardon 
for  what  they  had  said,  for  now  they  saw  the  wrong.  E 
replieil  that  if  feelings  had  been  hurt  by  whatever  had 
seemed  unkind,  they  were  now  healed  by  the  same  love 
and  unity  that  had  so  universally  prevailed  in  our  little 
band,  that  had  given  courage  and  strength  all  through  the 
year.  Here  were  sad  faces  brightened ;  and  others  fol- 
lowed me,  manifesting  the  healing  power  of  love.  The 
Lord  was  in  our  minds  reconciling  to  himself,  and  melting 
away  every  apparent  root  of  bitterness. 

I  left  them  again  united  ,  but  our  little  BajUist  organ- 
ization lived  only  till  their  fourth  meeting.  From  their 
own  choice  it  was  discontiiuied  ;  and,  as  the  majority  in 
that  community  were  of  iSIethodist  ])r()clivities,  it  has  never 
ceased  to  be  of  that  family  name,  being  a  few  months  after 
reorganized  under  the  auspices  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 


ill  ■,  *-4t 

5    1.(1      ,-V     •• 


I    t 

I' 


202 


A    woman's    r.IFK-WORK. 


.i 


I  liiul. previous  to  Iciiviiip;  this  fu'ld,  writlon  o  William 
AiHlcrsoii's  will',  Miiria,  (lirci;to(J  tt)  Iicr  fiitlicr,  nnd  dated 
in  Adiiaii,  ]Miclii;.fan,  and  I  instructed  letters  f'nini  licr  to 
l)e  sent  to  that  city  in  my  care.  Hnon  after  my  return  u 
letter  came  from  her  father,  as  William  hud  directid.  1 
DjM'ued  it,  and  foinid  the  very  pltuisiblo  i»lan  of  hrin^^in;^ 
AVillitiin's  wile  and  four  children  to  him.  Her  (lit her 
wrote  of  the  lo.-s  of  his  own  wile;  and  as  the  i^ize  antl 
<'olor  of  IMaria  answered  to  the  deM'riptiou  of  his  own  wile, 
as  recorded  tKi  his  manuniission  papei"s,  he  proposed  to  take 
]Maria  and  the  chikhxn  ii  few  miles  away  in  the  ni<i;ht, 
where  they  would  hu  kept  secreted  until  the  excitement 
of  hnntiuL!:  for  them  was  over,  when  he  proposed  to  lake 
them  a  ni;_d»t's  jc.urney  northward.  By  that  time  lie  hoped 
that  he  coidd  travel  openly,  with  his  free  })apers.  I  re- 
jiiicd  as  William  rKjuested,  in  his  name,  and  i'orwanled 
hoth  the  letter  and  a  coi>y  of  my  rejily  to  him,  with  a  re- 
newed caution  lor  him  not  to  cross  the  Detroit  liiver,  as 
it  was  possible  that  all  tlu\sc  plans  were  devised  hy  his 
enemies,  instead  of  tlu!  father-in-law  and  his  wife.  They 
had  desired  him  to  meet  them  on  their  way,  and  also  in- 
(]uir(>d  for  names  of  places  and  ])(n\sons  who  aided  him, 
lor  the  purpose  of  i)assiiip;  through  safely  to  some  point 
wheie  they  could  meet  to  part  no  more  until  death  itself 
should  s(>i)amti'  them.  I  wrote  him  to  wait  patiently  the 
result,  and  not  allow  himself  to  become  too  much  elated 
over  this  plausiJjle  plan,  for  I  had  written  "  that  there 
were  many  friends  who  assisted  him,  whose  names  he  had 
f(M'Lrotten,  neither  could  lie  call  to  mind  the  names  of  the 
many  ))Ia('es  \u\  })assed  through,  for  he  was  taken  from 
jtlace  to  \)\iice  in  haste.  They,  too,  would  lind  no  lack  of 
friends;  and  if  they  brought  his  family  to  Adrian,  Mich- 
igan, and  in<|uir(>d  for  Mrs.  Lauri'  S.  Ilaviland,  a  widow, 
they  would  learn  where  he  could  b(  found." 

Not  many  days  elapsed  before  the  answer  came  in  the 
person  of  a  Southerner,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Warren,  of 


rmrnm 


>V  II, 1,1AM    ANDKIiSOX. 


2u;} 


Dclroit,  witli  my  l('lt<T  in  liis  Imnd,  mihI  with  llio  statr- 
ninit  llmt  I  would  know  (lie  ulicrciiltoiits  of  Williuiii 
Andi'isoM.  lie  y.\'n\  his  iliinily  had  arrived  in  Di-tmit  with 
his  wili-'s  l'"thor,  and  that  they  were  in  the  family  of  ii 
('(•lured  minister  hy  the  name  of  William.'. 

I  told  him  I  was  acipiainted  with  the  Williams  Ihmily, 
and  was  very  ^dad  to  hear  of  tiu;  arrival  of  William  An- 
derson's family,  over  whom  he  had  becu  very  anxious,  and 
iufjuired  wlien  they  eamc. 

"  Yesterday,  ahout  four  o'cloek,"  was  tlic  reply.  "Tliere 
poems  to  he  (itiite  an  interest  in  the  fainilv  hv  the  whito 
people.  Mr.  Hallaek  gave  me  five  dollars  to  pay  ^\'ill- 
iam's  fare  to  J)etroit  to  meet  his  family,  as  I  volunteered 
to  come  for  him.  And  here  '.s  a  letter  he  t?ent  to  his 
father-in-law;  you  ean  read  fur  yourself." 

I  took  it,  and  as  I  opened  it  reeoj^nized  the  letter  I 
^vrotc  for  him.  "Yes,  this  is  all  right;  it  is  the  letter  I 
wrote  for  William." 

]>eginning  to  appear  quite  nervous,  he  said:  "You  sec 
in  that  there  is  a  statement  that  you  would  know  where 
he's  at  work;  and,"  taking  out  his  watch,  "I  .^ee  we'll 
have  to  hurry  to  get  to  Adrian  hy  train  time,  and  if  you  'II 
he  so  kind  as  to  tell  me  where  to  find  him,  as  they  are 
very  anxiously  waiting  for  us,  I  shall  he  obliged  to  you. 
It  would  be  a  great  disappointment  if  we  should  fail  to 
reach  Detroit  when  the  next  train  goes  in." 

He  walked  to  and  fro  across  the  room,  first  to  the 
door,  then  to  the  window,  in  a  hurried,  excited  manner, 
while  I  was  purposely  detaining  him  to  see  him  tremblt!. 
I  was  (juite  .satisfied  that  he  was  a  bogus  coin  by  the  index 
of  his  face.  ^Vhen  I  told  him,  at  length,  that  he  was 
woi'king  in  Chatham,  Canada  West,  and  that  T  wrote  this 
direction  to  avoid  any  possible  .scheme  or  plot  to  retui'n 
him  to  hopeless  bondage,  his  face  reddened  and  voice 
trend)led  as  he  rei)lied : 

"  I  do  n't  know  any  thing  about  it,  only  what  Mr. 


'  i? 


i  ■  ' 

'':i 

t^' 

-^i 

:  ! 

•ijj 

I 


«; 


201 


A    woman's   LIFE-WUIIK. 


m 


:^i 


I  ' 


i 


'i  '■ 


Hallack  told  me.  That  is  every  thing  that  I  know  in  this 
matter." 

I  told  him  what  ^Fr.  TTallack  had  informed  him  was  all 
right,  and  he  could  tell  him  to  send  the  family  on  the  first 
train  from  Windsor  to  Chatham,  and  they  would  meet 
AVilliam  there.  He  bowed,  "  I  thank  you ;"  but  looked 
as  if  his  words  very  much  misrepresented  him. 

By  the  timo,  he  was  out  of  sight  I  had  my  horse  and 
buggy  ready,  to  follow  him  to  Adrian,  to  tclegrajih  Horace 
Hallack  and  George  De  Baptist  to  forward  a  dispatch  to 
William  Andci'son,  Chatham,  Canada  West,  to  leave  that 
city  without  an  hour's  delay,  as  I  was  satisfied  his  enemies 
from  Missouri  were  after  him,  and  probably  would  take 
liim  as  a  murderer.  The  telegram  was  sent,  and  he 
obeyed  its  rc<picst. 

Within  two  days  my  caller  was  there,  inquiring  for 
AVilliam,  and  was  told  by  a  number  that  he  had  been  at 
work  in  town  some  time,  but  left  a  couple  of  days  before, 
but  knew  not  where  he  went.  After  a  few  days'  search 
and  inquiries  in  that  town,  he  returned  to  Detroit,  and 
for  the  first  time  called  on  Horace  Hallack  to  inform  him 
that  he  was  in  search  of  a  colored  man  by  the  name  of 
William  Anderson,  who  was  a  free  man,  that  had  com- 
mitted in  the  State  of  Missouri  a  cokl-blocxled  murder  of 
a  Baptist  deacon,  for  the  paltry  sum  of  five  dollars,  and 
he  understood  he  had  been  quite  recently  in  Chatluim, 
Canada,  but  had  left  that  city.  He  would  like  advice  as 
to  what  course  to  pursue  to  ascertain  his  whereabouts. 
Horace  Hallack  referred  him  to  George  J)c  Baptist,  who 
"■was  well  acquainted  with  leading  colored  men  in  many 
localities  both  in  Canada  and  this  side  the  river. 

Our  INIissonrian  was  now  in  good  hands,  as  I  followed 
my  despatch  to  them  with  a  long  letter,  giving  William 
Anderson's  experience  in  detail.  George  De  Baptist  told 
liim  if  he  had  been  a  slave,  he  would  have  taken  every 
measure  within  his  reach  to  i)rotect  him  iu  his  freedom. 


ARREST   DtFEATED. 


205 


I'd 
In 

r 
\y 


But  as  lie  said  he  was  always  free,  and  such  a  high-handed 
murderer  as  he  represented,  he  would  go  just  as  far  to 
briug  him  to  justice.  "I  will  tell  you  what  I  will  do;  I 
"will  write  to  an  iutelligeut  colored  man  in  each  of  the 
largest  settlements  of  colored  people,  Cliatham,  Amhurst- 
burg,  and  Sandwich,  and  will  receive  replies  from  each 
"within  four  days,  and  I  will  give  you  the  result  of  their 
inquiries."  At  the  time  appointed  the  Missourian  returned 
for  tidings. 

Said  George,  "  I  have  received  answers  fi*om  each  let- 
ter, and  from  Amhurstburg  and  Sandwich  they  write 
they  have  known  or  heard  nothing  of  a  man  by  that  name; 
but  the  man  to  whom  I  wrote  in  Chatham  has  known  all 
about  him,  being  well  acquainted  with  him,  and  he  writes 
that  William  Anderson  had  been  talking  of  going  to  Sault 
St.  Marys,  and  that  he  left  two  weeks  ago,  rather  mys- 
teriously, without  telling  him  or  any  any  one  else  where 
he  was  going;  but  the  greater  probability  was  he  went 
there." 

He  gave  the  letters  to  him  to  read  for  himself.  Con- 
sequently he  hired  Mr.  Warren  and  another  man,  and 
took  the  trip  to  Sault  St.  Marys,  where  he  spent  a  week 
inquiring  for  William  Anderson ;  but  he  failed  to  get  the 
least  clew  to  his  whereabouts,  and  returned  to  Detroit. 
He  left  a  power  of  attorney  with  his  friend  Warren  to  ar- 
rest him  in  case  he  could  be  decoyed  over  the  Detroit 
river;  if  that  plan  did  not  succeed,  he  wjik  to  telegraph 
him  if  he  found  his  whereabouts  in  Canada.  If  these 
}>lans  failed,  he  left  directions  to  arrest  me  with  a  United 
States  warrant.  But  about  the  time  I  was  to  have  been 
arrested  Mr.  Warren,  the  man  who  was  empowered  to  ar- 
rest me,  died  with  cholera — a  singular  coincidence.  Mr. 
Warren's  brother  expressed  deep  sorrow  and  regret  to  find 
the  pai)ers  granting  legal  authority  to  transact  such  busi- 
ness in  his  brother's  possession  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
He  allowed  George  De  Baptist  to  see  them  before  they 


<n 


206 


A   WOMAN  S   LIFK-WORK. 


I..;- 


ts 


'I 


were  destroyed.  This  was  the  second  time  cholera  defeated 
my  arrest. 

riirsuit  was  still  continued  for  William  Anderson. 
Three  years  after  I  fell  in  company  with  D.  L.  Ward,  at- 
torney of  New  Orleans,  in  a  stage  between  Ypsilanti  and 
Clinton,  Michigan.  lie  was  making  some  complaints 
about  the  North,  which  drew  forth  a  few  remarks  from 
mo.  "Oh,  1  am  glad  I've  got  hold  of  an  abolitionist.  It 
is  just  wliat  I  have  wished  for  ever  since  I  left  my  homo 
in  New  Orleans.  Now  I  want  to  give  you  a  little  advice, 
and,  as  it  will  cost  you  nothing,  you  may  accept  it  freely, 
and  I  hope  you  will  profit  by  it;  and  that  is,  when  you 
abolitionists  have  another  Sims  case,  call  on  Southern  legal 
gentlemen,  and  Ave  will  help  you  through.  We  would 
have  cleared  Sims,  for  that  Fugitive-slave  Law  is  defec- 
tive, and  we  know  it,  and  we  know  just  how  to  handle  it.'' 

"Why  did  you  introduce  a  defective  bill?" 

"  Because  we  made  up  our  minds  to  bring  you  North- 
erners to  our  terms,  whether  it  was  constitutional  or  not, 
and  wc  have  done  it,  because  we  knew  we  could  do  it ; 
not  because  we  cared  for  a  few  niggers;  for  I  say,  if  a  nig- 
ger cares  enough  for  freedom  to  run  for  it,  he  ought  to 
have  it.  Now  we  knew  that  was  an  unconstitutional  thing 
before  wc  put  it  before  Congress ;  but  we  put  it  there  to 
let  you  know  we  could  drive  it  down  Northern  throats, 
and  we  did  it,  too." 

**  I  acknowledge,"  I  replied,  "that  there  is  too  much 
servility  in  our  North ;  there  is  too  much  crouching  and 
cringing,  but  I  am  prepared  to  say  there  are  more  than 
seven  thousand  that  have  never  bowed  the  knee  to  your 
Baal  of  slavery,  and  never  will.  We  never  shall  do  hom- 
age to  your  Southern  goddess,  though  you  may  cry  loud 
and  long  in  demanding  its  worship.  You  say  if  we  have 
another  slave  case,  if  we  come  to  you  to  help  us  through, 
you  will  do  it,  and  that  if  a  slave  wants  his  freedom  bad 
enough  to  run  for  it,  you  think  he  ought  to  have  it?" 


LETTER   TO   LORD   ELGIX. 


207 


ii 
I 

lr 


Yes,  maflam,  wc  will  aid  you,  for  we  know  just  how 


to 


handle  that 
"  Supposiuj 


tl 


miff. 


a  man  is  about  to  be  sold  from  his  family, 
and  he  falls  at  his  master's  feet,  and  ])k'ads  in  tears  to  re- 

him  faithfully 


main  with  his  family,  and  promises  to  serv( 
all  the  days  of  his  life,  if  he  will  only  permit  them  to  re- 
main together ;  but  the  master  persists  in  the  sale ;  the 
slave  makes  his  escape ;  is  overtaken  by  his  master,  yet, 
severely  wounding  him,  he  succeeds  in  gaining  his  liberty. 
Now  what  do  you  say  in  regard  to  this  sui)posed  case?" 

Looking  me  full  in  the  face,  he  asked  my  name, 
which  was  given.  Said  he,  "  I  think  I  am  acquainted 
with  that  case.  Is  it  not  William  Anderson,  a  runaway 
from  Missouri?" 

*'  William  Anderson's  case  is  very  similar  to  the  one  I 
have  described." 

"  Oh  yes,  madam,  and  you  are  implicated  in  that  af- 
fair, but  as  you  arc  a  lady  I  will  not  disturb  you ;  but 
you  are  liable  to  great  difficulty  in  that  cjise,  and  I  will 
tell  you  we  are  going  to  have  Anderson  by  hook  or  by 
crook ;  we  will  have  him  by  fair  means  or  foul ;  the  South 
is  determined  to  have  that  man,  and  vou  '11  fnid  vour 
House  of  Refuge  will  not  protect  him  oilher." 

"  Tiiis  is  the  way  I  jxirceive  you  Southern  legal  gentle- 
men will  help  us.  But  you  will  never  get  Anderson  from 
Canada.     Your  determinaticm  will  fail." 

"  We  shall  not  fail.'but  I  will  tell  you  after  I  return 
from  our  fillibustering  tour,  as  we  are  going  out  next 
month.  We  are  confident  of  success  in  that,  too,  for  our 
fleet  is  in  good  condition.     We  shall  then  take  Andersi 


m, 


if  not  before,  and  let  you  see  how  much  your  House  <)f 
Refuge  will  do  to  hol<l  that  man  from  the  South." 

I  never  heard  from  I).  L.  Ward  from  that  day.     I  had 
written   ])revious  to  this  interview  to  tl 


le  governor-general 


Lord  Elgin,  of  the  first  effljrt  tn  retake  him  as  a  murderer. 
He  replied  that,  "in  case  of  a  demand  for  William  Ander- 


r 

hi;-: 


1 


1 


aaea 


208 


A   woman's  I.IP'E-WORK. 


1^  - 


itfe 


p|# 


I 


u 


I: 


son,  he  should  require  the  case  to  be  tried  in  their  British 
court ;  aud  if  twelve  freeholders  should  testify  that  he  had 
been  a  man  of  integrity  since  his  arrival  in  their  dominion, 
it  should  clear  hiui."  This  information,  however,  I  did  not 
reveal  to  cur  Southern  lawyer. 

Three  years  later,  in  which  time  I  had  succeeded  in  fin- 
ishing my  Raisin  Institute  building,  aud  reopened  the  insti- 
tution in  charge  of  a  principal  from  Oberlin  College,  the 
sad  tidings  reached  me  that  William  Anderson  was  lodged 
in  jail  in  the  city  of  Toronto,  under  charge  of  murder  com- 
mitted in  the  State  of  Missouri.  He  was  awaiting  his  trial, 
and  Gerrit  Smith  was  one  of  his  legal  advisers.  I  wrote 
immediately  informing  him  of  the  previous  efforts  to  search 
out  his  whereabouts,  and  that  his  pursuers  at  that  date 
(1853)  alleged  that  he  was  a  free  man,  aud  had  never  been 
a  slave.     In  reply,  Gerrit  Smith  wrote : 

"  I  am  glad  you  have  given  me  so  much  of  his  history. 
Poor  Anderson  !  I  visited  him  in  jail.  I  will  send  you  my 
speech  in  his  behalf.  I  hope  the  friends  will  purchase  his 
family.  I  have  volunteered  to  do  all  I  can  for  the  poor 
man.  Lord  Elgin  is  removed ;  the  present  governor-gen- 
eral is  a  stranger  to  this  case.     God  bless  you. 

"  I  am  truly  your  friend,  Gerrit  Smith." 

A  few  days  later,  I  received  the  thrilling  speech  of  Ger- 
rit Smith,  like  the  man,  full  of  pure  and  soul -inspiring 
thought;  but  I  trembled  with  fear  when  two  of  the  three 
judges  were  in  favor  of  returning  William  Anderson  to  the 
State  of  Missouri,  and  that  Riggs  the  claimant  was  liable 
to  succeed;  but  through  the  efforts  of  his  friends,  and  the 
opjKising  judge,  the  case  was  appealed  to  a  higher  court, 
and  William  Anderson  was  sent  to  England,  where  he  re- 
mained in  safety  until  the  war  ojx?ned,  in  which  time  the 
case  was  adjusted  in  his  favor.  The  Missouri  agent,  Riggs, 
failed,  and  the  friends  of  liberty  rejoiced. 

Three  young  men  fled  from  Daniel  Payne,  Kentucky, 
and  succeeded  in  reaching  Canada,  where  they  had  proven 


cRT'Ki.T  Y   n  i:q  it  it  k  d. 


209 


themselves  worthy  of  their  hard-earned  freedom.  A  iew 
mouths  ehipsod,  aud  tlieir  master  came  for  them,  and  triid 
to  hire  them  to  go  hack  with  liim,  promising  to  make  over 
to  them  manumission  papers  as  soon  as  they  returned.  But 
he  failed  to  ins})ire  Alfred  and  his  two  brotliers  with  confi- 
dence in  his  })romisc  of  freedom  and  fair  wages  for  their 
work.  lie  then  secured  the  aid  of  a  colored  man  to  invito 
tliem  to  a  dancing  party  in  Detroit  a  few  days  after,  but 
the  boys  mistrusted  that  their  old  master  had  the  handling 
of  this  invitation,  and  did  not  accept  it. 

As  they  had  been  annoyed  two  weeks  by  the  various 
plans  of  "  Master  Dan  I'ayne,"  they  concluded  the  next 
time  he  gave  them  a  call  to  appear  more  .'social,  and  gave 
their  plan  to  forty  or  fifty  of  their  friends,  who  were  to  lie 
in  ambush  near  the  old  barracks,  where  one  of  the  brothers 
was  to  have  a  chill,  and  appear  too  sick  to  go  over  the 
river.  But  two  days  passed  before  the  opportunity  arrived 
that  enabled  them  to  carry  out  their  })lan.  Wht>n  Alfred 
informed  the  ex-master  of  the  illness  of  his  brother,  (»f 
course  he  must  hasten  to  the  sick  Ixiy  with  a  nice  brandy- 
sling  for  the  chills,  and  he  i)urchas((l  a  good  quantity  for 
them  all.  While  he  was  handing  a  glass  of  sweetened 
brandy  to  the  sick  man,  a  company  of  men  rushed  in  and 
held  hirn,  while  Alfred  and  two  brothers  stripped  him  of 
his  coat,  vest,  boots,  socks,  and  pants,  and  tied  liim  with 
a  rope  in  the  same  way  the  master  had  tied  their  mother, 
when  he  compelled  her  to  be  stripped,  and  tied  her  with 
his  own  hands,  and  whipped  her  until  the  blood  ran  to  the 
ground.  Alfred  and  his  brothers  applied  dexterously  the 
slave-whip,  which  they  had  provided  for  the  occasion  by 
borrowing  a  plantation  slave -whip  kept  by  Henry  liibb 
as  a  reminder  of  his  slave  life.  Daniel  Payne  begged 
heartily  for  mercy.  Alfred  replied:  "  Yes,  this  is  just  the 
way  my  mother  begged  for  mercy;  but  you  had  no  mercy 
for  her,  and  this  is  to  show  what  she  receeived  at  your 
cruel  Imnds."    They  applied  the  lash  until  the  forty  s:triiH.'8 


• 


mm 


ti  T' 


'*«  «;y 


i''r 


11 


:|:*: 


■  i  ( 


'      'If 


210 


A   woman's  I.IFE-"VVOIlK. 


O 


their  mother  had  received  at  his  hands  had  been  given. 
Then  they  uubjimd  him  and  gave  him  lil'teeu  minutes  to 
dress  and  leave  Canada,  and  gave  him  a  quarter  to  go 
Avith,  keeping  his  watch  and  purse,  which  contained  about 
forty  dollars.  He  crossed  the  river  within  the  given  time, 
and  sent  an  agent  to  call  on  the  authorities,  to  whom  he 
entered  a  complaint  of  being  robbed  of  a  gold  watch  and 
one  hundred  dollars,  but  made  no  complaint  of  the  whip- 
ping. He  affected  to  be  tot  lame  "with  rheumatism"  to 
return  to  h\j  Kentucky  home  for  a  number  of  days,  iu 
which  time  the  boys  returned  his  watch,  but  kept  the 
money.  Alfred  and  his  brothers  said  ISIr.  Payne  was  as 
untruthful  about  tlie  amount  of  money  as  he  was  in  call- 
ing his  old  silver  watch  gold.  Suffice  it  to  say,  the  young 
men  were  never  after  troubled  or  aunoyed  by  Daniel  Payne, 
of  Kentucky.  Although  it  was  a  course  I  wouhl  never 
have  inaugurated,  yet  it  was  largely  in  human  nature  to 
requite  the  cruelties  heaped  upon  their  mother  when  it  was 
beyond  their  power  to  protect  her. 

With  very  numy  pleasant  remembrances,  I  left  this  la- 
borious field  cf  labor  lor  home  work,  where  I  spent  nearly 
three  years  looking  after  the  best  interests  of  my  children, 
and  making  preparations  to  reopen  Riisin  Institute,  for 
the  moral,  intellectual,  and  spiritual  improvement  of  our 
youth. 


M 


IlilSll    FlilENDtt. 


211 


Chapter  IX. 


RESCUE  OF  SLAVES. 


A  FAMILY  of  six  left  their  old  Kentuckv  liomc  in  search 
of  freedom.  A  young  wife  who  wiis  sold  had  made  her 
escape  three  years  previously.  I  noticed  a  stranger  i)ass- 
ing  through  my  gate,  and  as  he  was  a  mulatto,  I  went  out 
to  see  where  he  had  gone.  I  found  him  sitting  in  tie 
porch,  waiting  to  sec  some  one  of  whom  to  inquire  whether 
he  was  at  the  right  jdace.  lie  handed  a  })aper  directed 
to  me  by  an  under-ground  railroad  ticket  agent,  who  in- 
formed me  there  were  six  fugitives  in  his  company.  "Then 
there  are  six  of  you?"  I  asked;  *'and  where  are  the  bal- 
ance?" "My  two  brothers  are  back  a-ways,"  he  replied, 
'"cause  we 's  feared  it  wasn't  the  right  place." 

Being  assured  all  was  right,  he  went  back  for  them. 
They  had  left  their  mother,  with  her  two  little  grandchil- 
dren, in  Carth:iginia,  until  the  hoys  could  find  a  safe  homo 
for  them,  hut  they  knew  not  whetiier  they  should  go  on 
to  Canada  or  find  the  object  of  tiuiir  search  short  of  that 
plac(!.  They  heard  in  Carthagiuia  that  Michigan  was  the  last 
place  she  had  l)ceu  heard  from,  and  that  was  a  short  time 
after  passing  through  that  town.  They  were  directed  to  mo 
as  being  most  likely  to  know  the  whereabouts  of  the  young 
wife.  They  had  been  in  my  home  a  number  of  hours  be- 
fore the  elder  brother  dared  make  the  inquiry.  I  noticed 
the  frequent  heavy  sigh  and  sad  countenance,  and  I  thought 
he  was  probably  very  anxious  over  the  safety  of  his  mother, 
and  I  assured  him  that  she  was  in  good  hands,  for  I  knew 
them  to  be  true  friends.  While  he  assented,  yet  all  my 
words  of  encouragement  did  not  seem  to  cheer  him,  while 
the  two  younger   brothers  were   happy.      I   went  through 


I , 


' 


F»'     •" 


.•;f  I. 


M'l? 


;■*  I 


,^  I 


i  - 


I  ' 


^     ;!, 


212 


A    WOMAN  .S    LII'E-WOUK. 


'f  I 


my  usual  course  of  giving  tlioni  now  naniop.  As  tlioy  loft 
that  entirely  with  me,  I  gave  as  the  family  name  lioss, 
and  their  given  names  Benjamin,  Iliehanl,  and  Daniel. 
But  I  eamc  to  the  conelusion  that  the  older  l)rother  was 
ti'oubled  over  some  friends  he  had  left  heliind.  At  length, 
in  a  half  hesitating  and  trend)ling  manner,  he  ventured  to 
ask  if  I  knew  any  thing  of  a  colored  girl  by  the  name  of 
:Mary  Todd. 

"Certainly  I  do,"  said  I;  "and  did  you  know  her?" 

"Yes,  ma'am,"  was  his  re])ly. 

"Do  you  know  whether  her  husband  was  sold?  She 
worried  a  great  deal  about  him." 

"No,  they  talked  of  selling  him  lately."  Then,  after 
a  pause,  "She  isn't  married  again,  is  she?" 

"  Why,  no,  she  is  a  very  steady,  nice  young  woman. 
Evei-y  one  in  the  neighborhocnl  where  she  lives  takes  a 
great  interest  in  her.  Perhaps  you  arc  accpiainted  with 
her  husband  ;  why  don't  he  come  ?  lie  i)romised  to  fol- 
low her  as  soon  as  he  could." 

While  his  countenance  lit  up  with  joy,  I  had  no  sus- 
picion of  who  he  was  until  he  said,  "  I  am  the  man.  I 
am  her  husband." 

"  Why  did  n't  you  tell  me  that  before?" 

"  I  was  'fraid  of  bad  news  if  I  got  any." 

"Afraid  she  was  married?" 

"  Well,  it 's  been  mighty  nigh  three  years,  an'  I  could  n't 
go  for  a  long  time  off  the  plantaticm,  after  she  left." 

As  she  was  twelve  miles  from  our  school,  and  by  this 
time  it  was  nearly  night,  I  hastened  to  inform  brother 
Canfield,  a  Wesleyan  minister,  that  the  older  brother  of 
these  fugitives  was  Mary  Todd's  husband.  "Is  it  possi- 
ble," he  asked,  "that  Mary's  husband  has  come  at  last?" 

Soon,  quite  an  excitement  was  produced  in  our  ueigli- 
horhood  over  the  arrival  of  Mary  Todd's  husband.  The 
next  morning  brother  Canfield  took  him  in  his  buggy  to 
meet  his  wife  and  little  son  he  had  never  seen  ;  and  a  time 


SUPPOSING    A   CASE. 


213 


D 


of  great  rejoicinfj  was  in  ihn  -vvholo  noighhorhood.  As 
thov  wore  married  after  slave  stvlc,  brothcu'  Caiifield  f«.>l- 
emiiized  the  marriage  legally.  The  minister  said  wo  all 
forgot  the  hlaek  skin,  'wlicu  \\c  saw  that  couple  l\y  to  each 
other's  arms.     Surely, 

"  Skins  may  (lifTer,  l)ut  afrcction 
])\vells  in  blaek  and  white  the  same." 

Mary  had  lived  mo?t  of  the  time  in  the  family  of  Fiteh 
Reed,  of  Cambridge.  They  soon  had  a  homo  for  their 
mother,  with  her  two  little  granddaughters,  and  were  all 
happy,  industrious,  and  highly  respected. 

One  of  the  common  trials  of  life,  to  mar  our  happiness 
in  our  family-like  institution  (February  23d)  was  the  list- 
less waywardness  of  some  of  our  dear  students,  in  a  deter- 
mined pnr})osc  to  attend  a  dancing  party  under  the  guise 
of  an  oyster  supper.  How  many  delusive  snares  are  laid 
to  entra[)  and  turn  aside  the  youth  into  divergent  ])aths. 
AVe  found  it  necessary  to  suspend  eight  of  our  students  for 
the  remainder  of  the  term.  It  is  a  j)ainfnl  duty  of  the 
surgeon  to  amputate  a  limb,  yet  it  may  be  an  imperative 
duty,  in  order  to  save  the  life  of  the  patient,  and  restore 
the  body  to  health. 

This  evening  a  very  remarkable  fugitive  slave  came 
from  Tennessee.  He  had  been  five  weeks  on  the  way,  in 
which  time  he  had  slept  but  one  night,  having  traveled  at 
night  and  buried  himself  in  hav  and  straw  in  barns  in  the 
day-time  to  keep  from  perishing  with  cold,  and  to  avoid 
detection.  He  says  six  years  ago  his  wife  and  child  were 
sold  from  him,  which  caused  him  days  and  nights  of  bitter 
tears.     He  then  firmly  resolved   to  make  a 


It  tempt 


gain  his  freedom  by  flight.  He  was  ca]>tured  in  Illinois 
after  a  severe  struggle.  He  showed  us  four  pistol-ball 
holes  in  the  arm  he  was  most  dextrously  using  in  his  own 
defense,  and    two   lart^e    scars   which  he  said  were  gash 


les 


I 


« ':.  tS 


1 1 


Ill'  i 


i    V 


'  'i    , 


•  n 


made  at  the  same  time  with  a  Bowie  knife,  which  enaliled 


3i 


*"  1 


,  11 


B  lij' 

1 
1 

^  y.!*! 

ii 

li 

-if 

ill 

1  i 

i    ^ 

ii 

1 

i 

'i 

\  ' 

f 

t  ''% 

M 

f 

'**'|fi 

if 

,1 

;.  'J.  ■ 

1      i- 

i^   1 
'1  :; 

f 

^;3 

i 

if ': 

,|- 

iili 


1^      ':( 


!ili 


G> 


214 


A  woman's  lifk-work. 


liis  enemies  to  capture  him.  After  they  secured  him  in 
jjiil  ho  was  advertised  in  papers,  which  his  master  saw, 
and  came  and  took  him  hack,  and  caused  him  to  be 
wliipped  on  the  bare  l)ack  until  tlie  flesh  was  so  badly 
torn  that  he  was  compelled  to  lie  on  his  stomach  four 
weeks.  During  this  time  he  was  not  able  to  turn  himself. 
After  recovering  his  master  put  him  in  the  iron  works,  of 
which  he  was  pr()i)rietor.  "If  I  hadn't  been  one  of  his 
engineers  he  would  have  sold  me  instead  of  giving  me  that 
awful  whipping  that  ho  thought  coufpiered  me;  but  he  was 
mightily  mistaken;  for  it  only  imbedded  in  my  heart  a 
more  bitter  hate  than  ever.  I  appeared  contented  and 
performed  my  work  well.  After  a  iew  months,  he  said 
one  day,  'I've  made  you  a  good  boy,  Jim,  and  now  I'll 
let  you  go  to  the  big  city  with  me.'  I  was  very  obe- 
dient, but  he  little  knew  of  my  determination  to  leave  him 
as  soon  as  I  could  make  sure  work  of  it.  That  is  the 
reason  I  would  not  make  friends  with  white  people  till  I 
found  Michigan,  for  Ave  have  heard  that  peoj)le  in  this 
State  are  friendly  to  us,  and  that  it  is  next  to  Canada." 

As  this  man  was  abovo  mediocrity  as  to  intelligence, 
his  two  days'  stay  with  us  had  a  salutary  influence  over 
our  school.  lie  could  not  be  prevailed  upon  to  rest  longer, 
as  he  could  not  be  easy  until  he  reached  Victoria's  domin- 
ions. Ilis  clothes  were  made  comfortable,  and  I  called  on 
a  few  friends  for  a  little  jjocket  change,  and  sent  by  him  a 
little  note  to  the  next  station,  where  he  was  aided  on  to 
Canada. 

Our  Spring  term  opened  with  fiiir  prospects.  A  number 
of  our  students  who  were  suspended  last  term  returned  to 
us,  they  said,  to  redeem  themselves,  and  they  were  as  good 
as  their  word. 

During  our  long  vacation  I  attended  an  anti-slavery 
ccmvention  in  Cincinnati,  where  I  met  a  white  slave  man 
from  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  who  left  his  home  in  the  night 
and  by  morning  took  public  conveyance  as  any  other  white 


A  WIIITK   SLAVK. 


21.0 


good 

ivery 
man 
light 

Ivbite 


man  would.  On  reaching  Cinciiiiiiiti  he  found  friends  of 
the  slave  to  Avliom  he  revealed  liis  contlitiou.  Levi  Cofliu 
advised  him  to  go  with  me  to  Michigan.  As  he  was  in 
greater  haste  than  I  was,  he  proposed  to  go  on  at  once. 
C-onsecjuently  I  wrote  a  letter  of  introduction  to  my  fri(;nds, 
re(iuesting  them  to  furnish  him  with  work.  In  two  weeks 
I  returned  and  found  my  young  friend,  Charles  McCluin, 
(for  that  was  the  name  I  gave  iiim  in  Cincinnati)  at  work 
with  a  friend,  who  .said  it  was  a  pity  that  I  had  introduced 
him  as  a  fugitive  slave,  for  they  would  not  have  believed 
it  if  the  statement  had  not  come  from  me. 

He  came  to  our  .school  and  improved  very  much  upon 
what  he  had  i)ickcd  up  from  the  white  chiMren  who  were 
going  to  .school,  and  by  the  aid  of  a  colored  minister  who 
could  read  and  write,  and  by  that  means  could  read  in  the 
second  reader  and  write  a  little.  lie  was  often  seen  in 
tears,  and  was  very  anxious  to  have  his  sister  with  him, 
who  was  as  white  as  himself  and,  like  him,  had  straight 
auburn  hair,  blue  eyes,  and  perfect  Caucasian  features, 
without  a  vestige  of  African  descent  that  could  be  detected. 
A  deep  .sympathy  was  enlisted  in  his  behalf,  lie  was  very 
anxious  to  convey  inti'lligence  to  that  sister  of  the  ease 
with  which  he  eiiected  his  escape,  and  that  she  too  could 
free  herself  as  easily.  A  number  of  th«;  friends  ottered  to 
aid,  and  one  friend  placed  thirty  dollars  in  my  hands  to 
bring  about  this  result.  I  wrote  to  a  colored  minister  in 
Little  Rock,  who  replied,  with  a  graphic  account  of  their 
rejoicing  at  his  success,  and  of  his  sister  Ann's  anxiety  to 
come  to  him,  but  that  she  had  no  means.  Charles  wrote 
to  her  that  he  w{)uld  send  means  with  instructions.  As  I 
had  for  many  years  had  a  great  desire  to  see  more  of  the 
system  of  slavery  in  its  own  territory,  as  so  many  people 
of  the  North  were  insisting  upon  our  exaggeratious,  and 
that  we  were  judging  the  majority  of  slave- holders  by  the 
few  unprincipled  men  we  had  seen,  I  concluded  to  become 
the  b(^arer  of  this  message. 


H 


'    .« 


"Ml 


' 


'vl 

'»'■!■■ 

.1'  1 

(i  'M,' 

:i  1 

1 

''!! 


;? 

;; 

it 

(I 

■(■,i 
j. 

! 

: 

21G 


».•' 


A    WOMAN'S    MFK-WOliK. 


With  a  woll-dcfinod  plan  of  the  ptn-ctn  and  lionsrs  I 
left  my  liuinc,  in  coulidi'iict!  tliat  tUv.  CJod  ()rj)jinit'l  woiiUl 
return  nu;  unhunucd.  Af'tiT  a  little  visit  with  my  dear 
i'liciids,  Levi  and  Catharine  ColHn,  in  Cinciniuiti,  I  resumed 
my  journey.  I  felt  a  little  disappointed  at  the  leavin;jj  of 
a  through  hoat  an  hour  earlier  than  reporte(l.  Levi  said, 
"  rerhai).s  thou 'It  find  it's  all  for  tJio  best,"  and  so  it  wan. 
For  the  second  day  after  leaving  Cincinnati  the  vessel  was 
l)Ui'n(><l  and  sunk,  with  great  loss  of  proiu-rty,  and  nuuiy 
of  the  i)assengerH  were  seriously  injured,  and  some  I'atully. 
As  I  soon  after  ])assed  the  wreck  of  partially  hurned 
furniture  floating  near  the  shore,  and  some;  hauled  out 
lying  on  the  hank,  1  was  thankl'ul  for  the  disappointment. 

At  Naj)oleon  I  left  the  boat  for  another  to  go  up  the 
Arkansati  river,  and  waited  at  the  best  hotel  in  the  })lacc, 
kept  by  thc^  widow  lieeves.  She  was  probably  a  fair  speci- 
men of  Southern  women.  The  appearan<'e  of  the  ])eople 
made  me  feel  as  if  I  was  out  of  these  United  States.  There 
was  quite  a  company  waiting  to  go  up  or  down  the  river. 
Among  them  Avere  six  or  eight  young  people — Colonel 
Thompson  with  his  sou  and  daughter,  whom  he  was  taking 
home  from  their  school  in  Helena,  Arkansas,  and  a  young 
Dr.  Jackson,  who  was  very  talkative  and  filled  to  over- 
flowing with  affectation.  With  a  twirl  of  his  little  cane, 
and  halfbcnt  bow,  in  a  simi)ering  manner  he  addressed 
the  four  young  ladies  sitting  on  the  sofa  before  him; 

"How  did  you  rest  last  night,  ladies?" 

"Quite  well,  I  thank  you." 

"Indeed,  I  am  very  happy  to  hear  it,  for  I  did  not. 
I  was  dreaming  all  night  of  shooting  and  stabbing,  and  I 
had  an  awful  time.  I  suppose  it  was  owing  to  the  awful 
time  we  had  when  I  was  here  last  over  a  nigger  fight,  or 
cr  a  nisrirer.     It  seems  he  had  started  to 


fight 


'o»^ 


run  away  and  they  overtook  him  here,  and  he  fought  like 
a  tiger.  He  had  armed  himself  with  a  six-shooter,  and  I 
tell  you  he  made  the  l)ullets  fly  lively,  and  they  shot  him 


ox   TIIK   AIIKANSAS   RIVKU. 


217 


:in^ 


Bint. 
.1  I 
.fill 
,  or 

ll  to 

llike 
(IT 

bum 


before  tlioy  coulil  catcli  him.  IIo  shot  one  man  (hiid  niul 
wounded  two  or  three  others,  nnd  I  was  called  upon  to 
extract  a  hall  iVom  the  shoulder  of  one  man." 

During  this  conversation,  and  much  more  not  recorded, 
I  was  writing  a  letter  home,  directed  to  a  friend  in  Cov- 
ington, Kentucky.  There  was  an  understanding,  while  iu 
Cincinnati,  tliat  I.cvi  Coffin  Avas  to  take  my  letters  from 
our  Covington  friends,  and  mail  them  home. 

To  my  great  relief,  the  small  boat,  "Kongh  and  licady," 
came  in,  an<l  was  to  leave  for  Indian  Territory,  up  the 
Arkansas  River,  in  two  hours;  hut  a  large  boat  was  going 
U])  the  next  day.  I  went  on  both  to  sec  what  they  were, 
and  I  found  the  largo  boat  looked  more  like  an  ohl  slaver 
than  a  civilized  craft,  and  made  my  choice  without  making 
known  the  reason.  There  was  in  the  hot<d  an  old  lady 
going  on  the  largo  boat,  and  she  urged  me  to  ae(!ompany 
licr,  and  a  young  woman  was  going  on  the  "  liough  and 
Ready,"  who  was  anxious  I  should  go  with  lur,  as  she  was 
alone,  and  going  to  her  mother  iu  Ijittle  Rock.  The  old 
lady  said  she  was  alone,  and  was  going  to  her  daughter, 
and  asked  Mrs.  Reeves  to  intercede  in  her  bclialf.  "Now, 
]\Irs.  Pmith,  I'll  make  a  bargain  with  you.  There  is  a 
rich  widower  on  the  big  boat,  and  he  's  got  lots  of  niggers 
and  money.  I'll  give  him  to  you  if  you'll  go  on  that 
boat;  and,  I  tell  you,  he's  rich  as  Croesus."  I  had  to  en- 
ter somewhat  into  these  familiarities,  and  told  her  I  would 
not  think  of  being  so  selfish  as  to  take  him  from  her. 

I  finished  my  letter-writing,  and  her  Pomp  was  told  to 
take  my  satchel  to  the  boat  with  the  young  woman. 
There  were  Colonel  Thompson  and  son  and  daughter,  who 
made  themselves  quite  too  fiimiliar  to  be  comfortable.  I 
soon  noticed  the  captain  seemed  quite  disconcerted, and  made 
many  excuses.  His  cabin  help  were  set  to  cleaning  and 
setting  things  in  order,  and  his  cook  sent  ashore  for  nuts, 
candies,  and  fruits.     AVe  hardly  had  started  when  Colonel 

19 


H 


it'   I 


}l 


I 


218 


A  woman's  life-work. 


n 


)i  I 


Wl 


'•J        ■) 

i    HI 

1»  M 


Thompson  oluirged  iiio  with  being  a  reporter  for  some  pe- 
riodical.    I  assured  liim  of  his  mif^tahc. 

Said  ho,  "  I  knew  yon  were  a  re2)ortcr;  and  when  Mrs. 
Reeves  was  urging  so  persistently  to  have  a  dance,  I  whis- 
pered to  my  young  folks  not  to  have  any  thing  to  do  with 
it,  for  you  'd  have  us  all  in  some  newspaper." 

I  told  him  I  was  Avriting  a  letter  to  mv  folks. 

Said  he,  "  You  need  not  think  you  are  going  to  fool  us 
in  that  way.  I  saw  you  writ",  a  few  miiuites,  then  st«p, 
and  listen  awhile  to  Dr.  Jackson  and  those  young  ladies, 
and  then  write  i'gain,  then  stop  to  listen  to  JMrs.  Reeves, 
and  then  write  again.  I  told  my  children  they  could  see 
you  had  five  or  six  pages  for  some  paper;  and  you  can 
never  make  me  l)clieve  that  was  all  for  a  letter.  Kow,  if 
you  will  answer  one  question  I  '11  release  you.  Have  n't 
you  written  an  article  for  a  paper  some  time?" 

I  hesitated,  for  the  next  query  would  be,  "What  paper? 
At  length  I  thouglit  of  the  note  of  correction  I  wrote  for 
the  Louisvilk^  Courier,  Avliile  in  that  city,  in  behalf  of 
Calvin  Fairbanks,  while  he  was  there  in  prison.  I  finally 
told  him  I  would  not  say  I  had  never  written  any  thing 
for  a  paper. 

"Now,  if  you  will  pardon  me,  just  one  more  question, 
and  if  you  will  answer  that  I  will  be  as  good  as  my  word, 
and  trouble  you  no  more  on  that  score.  AVhat  paper 
have  you  written  for?  I  wt)uld  like  to  know  whether  it 
was  a  Helena  paper  or  any  one  in  our  State." 

"Xo,  not  in  this  State,"  said  I;  "I  did  write  a  little 
card  for  the  Louisville  Courier." 

"Ah,  yes,  that's  it;  that  is  a  good  Democratic  paper. 
I  am  acfjuainted  with  the  editor.  I  knew  you  were  trying 
to  cheat  us  all  the  while.  I  wish  you  would  write  an  arti- 
cle for  the  Little  Rock  democrat.  If  you  will  I  will  send 
the  editor  a  letter  of  introduction;  and  I  know  he  will  pay 
you  well  for  it." 


)jj^a^^ 


AT  LITTLE  IU)C'K. 


219 


little 


paper. 

trying 
Ian  ixrti- 
lill  sciul 
ivill  pay 


But  I  (loclinod,  and  "was  very  much  relieved  wliou  the 
Thompson  llimily  reached  their  home  in  Pine  Bhilf.  Here 
I  saw  their  slaves  come  to  meet  them  for  their  ItaGrcraw. 
They  urged  me  to  stop  'svith  them  and  spend  a  ■week  or 
two,  and  tliey  •would  take  me  out  into  the  countrv  to  see 
some  beautiful  i))antaiions,  as  they  had  an  excellent  car- 
riage-driver. The  young  Avoman  said:  "Pa  has  owned 
him  a  numl)cr  of  years,  and  could  always  risk  us  with  him 
anywhere.  Our  plantation  is  not  a  very  large  one,  as  pa 
has  always  had  a  store  on  his  hands;  hut  there  are  some 
very  large  and  lieauliful  ones  beyond  u^." 

A  sense  of  relief  came  over  me  as  I  saw  them  leave 
the  boat,  and  W(!  wci-e  the  next  day  landed  in  Little  Pock. 
Being  after  dark,  I  spent  the  night  at  the  Anthony  House. 
Before  sunrise  I  was  at  tiie  house  of  our  friends,  who  were 
greatly  rejoiced,  and  sent  for  the  minister,  with  whom  wo 
considted.  After  making  all  necessary  arrangi'inents,  Avith 
the  signs  fixed  upon  Avhereby  I  might  understand  wlu-n 
the  expected  boat  would  arrive,  whether  any  unfavorable 
indications  were  noticed,  etc.,  I  in(piired  for  a  private  and 
ctmvenient  boarding-house,  where  I  couhl  remain  a  few 
(lavs  waiting  for  tidings  from  a  through  bojit.  The  family 
they  named  happened  to  l)e  where  the  young  woman  who 
came  on  the  sanu^  boat  with  mc  was  boarding,  with  her 
mother  and  brother-in-law,  who  was  keeping  a  tailor's 
shop.  I  incpiired  of  this  young  woman  ami  her  mother 
if  thev  thou'j;ht  I  c(jnld  secure  board  then;  a  few  davs, 
while  waiting  for  tidings  from  a  brother.  They  thouglit 
!Mrs.  Shears  might  not  havi^  a  convenient  room  fir  me,  but 
they  would  be  glad  to  have  me  in  their  room.  Soon  the 
matter  was  settled.  The  son-in-law  brought  in  sewing  for 
his  mother  and  sister-indaw,  and  I  made  myself  useful  by 
assisting  then  .  The  mother,  Mrs.  Springer,  had  a  nice 
ghallv  dress  for  mc  to  make,  that  she  said  she  could  n't 
have  got  made  to  suit  lier  as  well  for  eight  dollars;  ^ 
urged   me  quite  hard  to  go  in  with  herself  and  daughter 


-9        1 ' 


'! 


I 


i 


'% 


,1 


;li 


1      »■■ 


■  i 


i 


mss^mm. 


m 


ii 


220 


A   woman's   LIFE-WORIC. 


ill  opening  a  shop  for  dross-making.  I  also  did  some  sow- 
ing Ibr  Mrs.  Shears,  who  also  l)Ocame  (piite  social. 

Mrs.  Shears  was  very  crnel  to  her  slaves,  and  coin- 
plainod  of  the  indolenco  of  Jack,  a  boy  of  twelve  years. 
"But  I  haven't  got  him  fairly  broke  in  yet.  Don't  you 
thiidc,  after  I  paid  eight  hundred  dollars  in  gold  for  that 
nigger,  and  set  him  to  shell  a  barrel  of  corn,  he  spent  all 
that  day  in  doing  nothing?  I  was  just  ready  to  go  away, 
when  a  nigger-drover  brought  a  few  he  had  left,  and  said 
ho  'd  sell  cheap,  as  it  was  the  last  he  had  on  hand.  lie 
wanted  nine  hundred ;  but  I  told  him  I  'd  give  him  eight 
liundred  in  gold,  and  at  last  he  concluded  to  take  it. 
AVell,  as  I  told  you,  I  set  him  to  shelling  on  that  barrel 
of  corn,  and  I  don't  s'pose  he  shelled  a  dozen  ears  after  I 
was  gone.  Do  n't  you  think,  that  nigger  spent  all  that 
day  in  bawling  after  his  mother — a  great  booby,  twelve 
years  old !  lie  might  have  some  sense  in  his  head.  I 
gave  him  one  dressing,  to  begin  with;  for  I  found  he  'd 
got  to  know  who  was  master.  I  've  had  him  six  weeks, 
and  he  is  n't  hardly  broke  in  yet," 

Poor  motherless  child!  No  doubt  she  too  wept  bitterly 
over  the  separation ;  but  no  word  of  pity,  or  even  a  sigh 
of  sympathy,  must  be  allowed  hero.  I  must  listen  to  this, 
and  a  great  deal  more,  with  stoical  indifference. 

As  Mrs.  Shears  had  more  company  than  usual,  she 
came  to  me  one  evening,  and  asked  if  I  would  take  her 
daughter's  bed  in  her  room,  shielded  with  curtains,  for  the 
night.  This  was  satisfactory  to  mc.  The  following  morn- 
ing, at  gray  dawn,  the  two  little  boys,  Jack  and  Jim, 
came  in  with  fire  from  the  kitchen,  with  kindling.  The 
mistress  rolled  out  of  bed,  and  took  her  heavy-heeled  shoe, 
dealing  blows  upon  their  heads  and  shoulders,  and  said: 

"  Plow  come  you  niggers  till  this  time  o'  day  in  here 
to  build  fires?" 

"Aunt  Winnie  didn't  wake  us." 

"I'll  wake  you  up;  here  almost  daylight,  and  not  a 


0 


Nn 


sigh 


.,  slie 
her 
br  the 
morn- 
Jim, 
The 
shoe, 
[id: 
here 


mot  a 


CRUKL   WHIPPINC. 


221 


fire  huilt  yet,  wlien  these  four  fires  ought  to  have  hceu 
huilt  un  hour  ago.  And  did  u't  ^vake  up,  ha?  I'll  teach 
you  to  'wakc  up." 

Aud  so  she  kept  up  the  heavy  l)lows,  cliasing  them 
round  and  round  the  chairs,  and  tiie  hoys  crying,  "  I  ^vill 
get  up  early,  missus ;  I  will  get  up  early,"  till  it  seemed 
to  me  an  unreasonuhle  punislnnent. 

Just  as  the  two  fires  \vere  going,  and  the  little  fillows 
went  to  light  the  ollur  two,  the  son,  Joe  kShears,  came  in. 

"  Wliat  are  these  niggers  about,  that  these  fires  are  not 
all  going  long  ago?" 

"  O,  they  had  to  sleep  this  mornin';  they  say  Aunt 
AVinnie  did  n't  wake  'em." 

"I'll  wake  the  young  devils;  I'll  see  whether  they '11 
sleep  till  broad  daylight.  It 's  their  business  to  have  these 
iires  going  an  hour  ago;"  aud  out  he  went. 

At  breakfast,  I  noticed  Jim,  the  waiter,  was  missing, 
and  Jack  was  not  at  his  wood-chopping  as  usual.  8oon 
after,  as  I  i)assed  through  the  rear  porch,  I  saw  the  two 
httle  boys  hanging,  as  I  supposed,  by  their  wrists,  'to  a 
pole  over  the  bay  in  the  barn.  The  door  Avas  just  opened 
by  Joe  Shears,  to  commence  his  day's  work  of  whipping, 
r.s  I  soon  heard  the  cries  of  one,  then  the  other,  alternat- 
ing in  stripes  heard  with  their  cries,  by  spells,  until  noon. 
During  this  time  Joe  Shears  was  sitting  before  the  fire, 
playing  cards  and  sipping  his  brandy  between  the  whip- 
pings. Whenever  he  was  out  the  whipping  and  cries 
were  heard. 

At  noon  little  Jim  was  let  down,  very  hoarse  from 
crying,  and  his  eyes  red  and  swollen.  By  his  walk  I  knew 
the  little  fellow  had  suilered  intensely.  But  the  little 
wood-chopper  was  not  at  his  post.  S<»on  after  dinner  the 
lash  was  again  heard,  with  the  hoai-se  cry  of  little  -lack; 
and  each  time  Joe  Shears  sat  down  to  his  card-table  I 
looked  for  Jack,  but  after  a  game  or  two  of  cards  he  was 
out  again,  and  the  lasb  and  cries  resumed.     I  became  so 


J'     '     ! 


'i'^ 


illi:  r  - 


,r  i.v^ 


r,, 


r 

i 

1 

■'1 


i   .ill 


r^  ^ 


mmsBmsmSm 


it       V 


900 


A  woman's    LIF'K-AVOniC. 


1  „ll 


^ 

^    ' ' 

•f    , 

;    ■ 

'     ^ 

■"  > 

i 

distressed  that  at  four  o'clock  I  took  a  Avalk  on  the  street, 
ostenslljly  to  rest  l)y  exercise  after  a  day  of  sewing,  hut 
really  to  give  vent  to  tears  that  had  heeu  all  day  pent  uj), 
for  all  appearance  of  sympathy  must  here  be  restrained. 
Ou  my  return  I  heard  the  battling  of  the  paddle,  with  the 
cries  of  poor  Jack,  so  hoarse  that  I  could  hardly  have 
recognized  it  as  a  liuinan  voice  had  I  not  known  what  it 
Avas.     I  got  IK)  glimpse  of  the  poor  child   until  the  next 


jnornmg. 


As  the  tailor,  Joseph  Brink,  came  in,  the  sister-in-law  said, 
"  We  ought  to  have  a  lamj)  or  candle  lit  before  this  time." 

Said  the  mother,  "  We  do  n't  feel  half  tliankful  enough 
for  this  grate-fire.  Just  thiidc,  Joe  Shears  has  been  whip- 
ping those  two  little  boys  all  this  blessed  day,  and  I  should 
think  they  must  l)e  half  dead  to-night." 

*'  What  have  they  done?"  said  Joseph. 

"  I  don't  know;  do  you,  jNIrs.  Smith?" 

"Yes;  you  know  I  slept  in  ^Irs.  Shears's  room  last 
night;  and  the  boys  came  in  at  nearly  daylight  with  their 
pan  of  fire  and  kindling,  and  the  mistress  wanted  to  know 
why  their  fires  were  not  all  built  before,  and  they  said 
Aunt  Winnie  did  n't  wake  them.  And  she  whipped  them 
with  her  shoe  quite  a  Avhile ;  then  Joe  Shears  came  in,  and 
swore  at  them,  and  said  he  would  wake  them." 

"And  tiiat  was  it?  Only  think,"  said  Mrs.  Springer; 
"you  know  Aunt  Winnie  was  sick  yesterday.  And  just 
because  tliey  liad  n't  these  fires  all  built  l)efore  daylight 
they  've  had  them  tied  up  in  the  barn  all  day ;  that  cow- 
hide ^Irs.  Shears  keeps  hung  on  her  door-knob  her  Joe 
has  swung  over  those  two  little  niggers  all  day.  I  tell 
you,  if  the  devil  don't  catch  such  people  there's  no  use 


of  havin<r  a 


devil. 


Iler  son-in-law,  in  an  undertone,  said,  "  Be   careful ; 
do  n't  talk  so  loud,  or  it  will  make  a  fuss  here." 

"  Well,  I  don't  care,  I  am  mad.     I  tell  you,  Joe,  hell 
is  lined  this  very  minute  with  just  such  folks  as  these." 


just 

,-li-llt 

cow- 
Joe 
I  toll 
■lo  use 

refill ; 

hell 


NEGRO    BOY   KILLED. 


223 


**  Well,  I  think  they  are  more  cruel  here  than  they  are 
in  Georgia." 

"  I  've  seeu  just  such  work  in  Gooriria  and  in  Alabama, 
and  it's  all  over.  I  tell  you,  there  's  more  in  hell  to-night 
for  treating  niggers  this  way  than  for  all  other  sins  put 
together,  and  1  know  it." 

"Be  careful;  they'll  hear  you,  and  it  will  make 
trouble.     It's  their  property;  it's  none  of  ours." 

"I  don't  care  for  that;  they  are  human  beings,  and 
have  feelings  as  well  as  other  folks.  Tiiere 's  that  little 
nigger.  Bob,  they've  hired  of  Dr.  Webb,  down  street; 
they  whip  him  and  pound  him  about,  and  they  '11  kill  iiim 
some  day.  And  I  think  somebody  ought  to  re{)ort  to  Dr. 
AVebb  how  they  are  treating  Ihut  yoinig  nigger.  He  is  a 
mighty  nice-looking  boy.  He  is  almost  white,  and  they've 
got  him  all  scarred  uj)." 

"Well,  what  of  that?  The  doctor  himself  is  no  better. 
About  three  months  ago  his  boy  Tom  was  throwing  wood 
in  his  cehar,  and  he  did  something  he  didn't  like,  and  he 
kicked  him  down  the  cellar,  then  jumped  down  after  him 
and  took  a  billet  of  wood  and  was  pounding  Tom  over  his 
head  when  two  white  men  were  passing  by  and  saw  the 
whole  affair;  and  as  Tom  fell  the  doctor  came  up  out  of 
tlie  cellar  and  went  down  town  and  reported  his  Tom  had 
a  fit.  But  the  two  men  went  into  the  cellar  after  the 
doctor  left  and  found  him  dead  and  his  skull  broken  in. 
They  reported  what  they  saw  and  had  a  coroner's  in(piest 
over  him,  who  found  that  Tom  came  to  his  death  by  too 
severe  punishment.  They  arrested  the  doctor  and  put  him 
in  jail  a  few  days,  when  his  trial  came  off  The  doctor  was 
fined  five  hundred  dollars,  and  he  paid  it  and  went  free." 

"Yes,  that  is  the  doctor  we've  been  sewing  for,  is  it?" 

"Certainly."  ■ 

"I  tell  you,  hell  is  heaped  with  just  such  people." 

She  went  on  in  that  strain   that  reminded  me  of  St. 
p  hill  and  down"  that  almost  frightened 


'it 


.-«   1 


Clai 


rs  "cursnig  up 


m 


M  i 


<  .  i 


(■     '^ 


Jh 


'•''1 


■il    ; 


'      I 


224 


A  woman's  life-work. 


tlie  New  England  old  maid  of  "  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin."  I 
trembled  myself,  expecting  every  moment  that  some  mem- 
ber of  the  family  would  hear  her. 

Two  days  later  was  washing-day,  and  the  cook.  Aunt 
Winnie,  told  her  mistress  she  was  too  sick  to  do  the  very 
largo  wasliiug  for  three  boarders  besides  the  family.  I 
heard  the  mistress  cursing  her,  and  telling  her  she  could 
if  she  had  a  mind  to,  and  charged  her  with  being  lazy. 

In  came  her  s(m  Joe.     "AVhat's  all  this  fuss?" 

"O,  it's  AVinuie  says  she's  sick  and  can't  do  the  wash- 
in  o-  tin.-  v;eek." 

"H^i.'-I  I'll  see  how  sick  she  is,"  and  he  took  up  a 
bilV''  ui  -)..(>vewood  and  commenced  beating  her  over  her 
head  and  shoulders,  and  swearing  that  he  would  give  her 
som  iiinr'  to  bo  r-ick  for.  j\Irs.  Springer  called  my  atten- 
tion to  the  quanol  -f  !Mrs.  Shears  with  her  cook  before 
Joe  Shears  came  in.  Then  said  she,  "Poor  Aunt  Winnie 
will  catch  it  now,  I'll  warrant.  There,  just  hear  those 
blows;  they  sound  like  beating  the  table;  he'll  kill  her." 
And  table,  stools,  and  tin-pans  or  pails  made  racket  enough 
for  the  whole  kitchen  to  be  falling  down.  The  struggle 
with  a  volley  of  oaths  lasted  a  few  minutes. 

Mrs.  Springer,  up  to  boiling  rage  again,  "Hear  that; 
what  devils  they  are;  don't  you  believe  Aunt  Winnie  will 
die?  Why,  I  can't  hold  still."  In  as  careless  a  manner  as 
I  could  command  I  said,  "We  can  do  no  good  by  saying 
any  thing.    You  know  what  your  son  said  the  other  night." 

"I  know  it;  but  there  isn't  a  particle  of  humanity 
about  them.  I  feel  as  if  I  want  to  pitch  into  the  whole 
Shears  family."     Soon  all  was  quiet. 

"I  believe  Aunt  Winnie  is  dead,  don't  you?" 


I  think  not. 


am 


g< 


)m 


ir  in  there  to  see. 


As  she  got  up  to  go  to  the  kitchen  she  took  the  pitcher 


for  water.     While  she  w 


as  pumpmg 


r  the  water  near   the 


kitchen-door,  Aunt  Winnie  staggered  to  the  door  trying  to 


[lllg 
It." 

lity 
lole 


ther 
I  the 
to 


AUNT  Winnie's  dress. 


225 


■wind  a  clotli  around  her  bleeding  head,  and  one  eye  was 
swollen  shut.  As  she  catne  in  and  reported  how  badly 
she  was  bruised  up,  she  wanted  me  to  take  the  piteher  and 
go  to  the  pump  for  water;  but  I  told  her  I  would  wait  a 
little,  for  they  might  think  we  went  on  purpose  to  see 
Winnie. 

"Poor  thing,  I  know  she  came  to  the  door  on  purpose 
to  let  me  see  her."  And  Mrs,  Springer  could  not  rest 
satisfied  until  I  drew  tbc  next  pitcher  of  water,  when  the 
poor  woman  reeled  to  the  door  with  her  hand  on  her  head 
and  the  cloth  around  it  saturated  with  blood.  I  could 
not  sleep  a  wink  after  the  day  of  the  uiuncrciful  whipping 
of  those  two  little  boys.  Again  the  night  after  this  unmer- 
ciful beating  of  this  poor  Avoman  was  s})ent  in  weeping, 
and  prayer  to  Ilim  who  hears  the  cries  of  his  ojij^ressed 
children. 

A  few  days  after  Aunt  Winnie  came  to  jNIrs.  Springer 
and  asked  her  if  she  would  cut  and  make  a  green  delaine 
sacque  for  her,  and  cut  a  calico  skirt,  as  she  could  make 
that  in  the  night,  and  charged  her  not  to  let  her  mistress 
see  it  or  let  her  know  she  had  it,  because  her  husband  got 
it  for  her  and  gave  her  seventy-five  cents  to  get  Mis. 
Springer  to  cut  it;  "for  he  is  going  to  take  me  away 
three  weeks  from  next  Saturday  night,  'cause  the  people 
are  so  hard  here;  he  says  I  shan't  stay  here  any  longer." 
"I  am  so  sorry  for  her,  I  told  her  to  come  in  when  her 
mistress  and  Joe  Shears's  wife  are  away  making  calls,  and  I 
would  take  her  measure  and  cut  and  baste  it:  then  for  her 
to  come  in  after  they  are  all  in  l)ed  and  I  would  fit  it  and 
make  it  any  time,  keeping  it  under  a  sheet  I've  got  to 
make,  and  in  that  way  I  can  keep  it  out  of  sight ;  and  I 
told  her  you  and  my  daughter  will  say  nothing  about  it. 
Said  Winnie,  'I  knows  that  by  her  face.'  Do  you  know 
how  quick  these  black  people  read  faces?" 

While  she  was  sewing  on  Aunt  AVinnie's  sacque,  Joe 
Shears's  wife  came  into  our  room  a  little  while,  and  the 


I 


i 


-*d 
i  I 


,1 


I 


I!  ••■  ■ 


<•■■ 


22G 


»•' 


A    WOMAN'S   J.IFE-WORK 


U\: 


■I  % 


If!  ■  " 

ifl    .•  i 


M  15^ 


i    ■  ■  t. 


':•'    I 


Ml 

i! 


F   ft     « 


If  i 


1! 


daughter  looked  out  the  back  window,  where  Jack  was 
choj)ping,  and  said,  "I  don't  think  your  Jack  is  going  to 
live  long." 

"Why?     I'm  pure  he  cats  hearty." 

"He  looks  so  bad  out  of  his  eves;  I've  noticed  it  a  few 
days  past,  and  I've  noticed  he  sort  o'  staggers  sometimes, 
and  he  don't  walk  natural." 

She  jumped  up  and  looked  at  him  and  hastened  to  her 
mother-in-law's  room. 

"Mother,  Miss  Springer  says  Jack  is  going  to  die." 

"AVhat  makes  her  think  Jack  is  going  to  die?  I  don't 
see  any  thing  ails  Jack;  he  eats  hearty." 

Mii^s  Springer  (laughing):  "I  thought  I'd  .scare  her 
out.  I  wi.sh  I  could  scare  them  to  death,  so  they  would 
treat  their  niggers  like  human  beings." 

"Well,  you've  got  her  out  of  the  way  long  enough  to 
get  AVinnic's  sacquc  out  of  sight  before  our  Joe  comes  in, 
for  he's  so  mighty  careful  for  fear  we'll  get  into  trouble; 
.1  know  he'd  scold  if  he  knew  it." 

Strange  position  I  was  occupying,  here  among  the  most 
cruel  of  slave-holders.  And  they  were  calling  me  a  super- 
intendent of  t])e  underground  railroad  at  home;  and  here 
was  the  starting-point  on  our  underground  railway;  but 
a  silent  listener,  and  in  surprise,  I  said,  "Where  can  Aunt 
Winnie  and  her  husband  go?  As  you  say,  he  is  a  slave." 
"I  don't  know,  but  they  do  go  somewhere  out  of  the  way 
of  their  owners,  though  they  keep  up  a  mighty  hunt  for  a 
long  time ;  yet  a  good  many  of  'em  are  never  heard  from ; 
and  I  don't  know  where  in  creation  they  do  go,  and  I 
don't  care,  so  they  get  away  from  these  hyenas  that  have 
no  more  feelings  for  their  niggers  than  a  wild  animal,  nor 
half  as  much.  I  just  wonder  sometimes  that  the  niggers 
do  n't  turn  upon  'em  and  kill  such  devils.  I  know  I  would 
if  I  were  in  their  places."  "Yet  there  are  those  who  treat 
their  servants  kindly,"  I  replied.  I  feit  sometimes  as  if  I 
was  compelled  to  be  inditfereut. 


TAKING    A    WALK. 


227 


ay 

a 

n; 
I 

ve 
lor 
rs 
lild 


My  friend  passed  the  window  at  which  I  was  engaged 
in  sewing.  Al'ttT  a  few  niunients  I  made  an  excuse  to  rest 
myself  by  taking  a  little  walk,  as  each  of  us  frequently 
did.  I  soon  overtook  this  friend  who  informed  me  that 
Ann  wished  to  see  me  after  her  tea  was  over,  when  she 
would  he  relea.^ed  for  a  half  hour  to  walk  out  on  the 
back  way  with  a  free  mulatto  girl,  who  was  her  intimate 
and  coniidential  friend,  and  I  was  to  go  in  a  large  yard  of 
shrubs  and  i'ruit  trees  v.here  I  was  to  meet  this  friend  who 
would  call  for  Ann,  with  whom  we  were  to  take  the  pro- 
posed walk.  At  the  appointed  time  and  place  I  met  tho 
friend,  who  directed  me  to  stand  in  a  place  out  of  sight  of 
the  street,  or  little  cabin,  the  home  of  her  very  aged  and 
decrepit  parents,  who  were  worn-out  slaves,  and  as  I  under- 
stood were  given  their  freedom.  Their  slave-daughter  was 
j)ermitted  to  ste})  in  and  do  little  chores  for  them  after  her 
day's  work  was  done. 

While  waiting  in  this  lonely  and  solitary  nook,  three 
hirge  bloodhounds  came  in  sight.  I  remembered  of  hear- 
ing about  their  being  let  loose  after  sunset,  to  reconnoiter 
the  premises,  and  I  called  to  mind  what  I  had  heard  and 
read  in  history,  that  however  ferocious  an  animal  is,  a  stern 
and  steady  gaze  in  the  eye,  by  a  hun)an  being,  would  dis- 
arm it  of  i'erocity,  and  cause  it  to  leave.  This  course  I 
resolved  to  pursue  with  these  three  formidable  enemies, 
that  were  already  assuming  a  threatening  attitude,  with  a 
low  growl,  showing  their  teeth,  with  hair  on  end — the 
leadiT  as  large  as  a  yearling  calf,  the  two  following  him 
slightly  smaller.  I  fixed  my  eyes  upon  the  sparkling  eyes 
of  the  leader,  that  canje  within  six  feet  and  stopped;  soon 
the  growl  ceased,  the  lips  dropped  over  the  long  tusks,  the 
hair  smoothed  back,  and  he  quietly  walked  oif  with  his 
companions.  Soon  came  the  girl,  all  out  of  breath  :  "  Did 
the  hounds  come  to  you?" 

"  They  did." 

"Oh,  dear!  what  did  you  do?" 


•  t'fl 


.(•^  .:    r 


H 


u 


11 


■    'i 

i 
) 


i^' 


'  i«,  I 


i 


228 


A    AVOMANS    I.TFE-WORK. 


"I  stood  perfectly  still,"  I  answered,  "and  looked  in 
the  ey(>.s  of  the  leader,  and  they  soon  became  (|uiet  and 
walked  awn  v." 

"  Oh,  <l('ar,  that  Avas  the  oidy  thing  that  saved  your 
life.  If  you  had  stirred  a  |iarticle  they  would  have  torn 
you  in  pieces.  I  was  so  anxious  to  have  Aim  see  you,  I 
forgot  the  hounds  until  1  started  back,  and  1  liked  to  have 
fainted,  for  I  know  they  were  awfid.  I  liked  to  have 
screamed  out  '  (Jod  have  mercy  on  that  dear  friend,'  for  I 
was  'most  sure  I  'd  (ind  you  killed." 

"  Oh,  no,  the  Lord  has  preserved  me,  and  I  am  not 
harmed."  She  was  so  badly  frightened  that  it  was  some 
time  before  her  voice  ceased  trend)ling ;  but  lie  who  is 
ever  present  with  his  trusting  children  was  there. 

Arrangements  were  made  for  Ann  to  go  North,  but  if 
a  word  of  suspicion  was  heard,  1  told  her  she  must  defer 
going  to  a  i'uture  time;  that  she  must  go  as  her  brother 
went,  perfectly  inde})cndcnt  of  any  one,  which  she  was 
confident  of  doing;  but  she  wished  to  go  on  the  same  boat, 
with  me,  if  uo  one  else  was  going  from  their  city.  I 
learned  through  her  friend  that  she  was  overheard  to  ask 
a  friend  of  hers  for  a  sliawl  for  a  journey.  I  sent  her 
word  to  abandon  the  idea  of  going  then  at  once ;  that  I 
should  take  the  first  boat  for  home. 

She  did  not  obtain  her  freedom  until  after  her  mother's 
death,  two  or  three  years  later.  I  did  not  regard  the  trip 
lost,  painful  as  it  was.  There  was  on  the  boat  a  .sid 
couple,  taken  from  a  number  of  their  children  by  a  young 
beardless  boy,  perhaps  eighteen  or  twenty,  small  and  slen- 
der. I  noticed  them  frerpiently  in  tears.  They  were 
noticed  by  a  few  of  the  |)a.«sengers,  who  made  remarks 
about  the  sad  faces  of  those  negroes.  Said  one  heartless 
woman,  "  Jjook  at  that  nigger  cryin'.  I  don't  see  what 
she's  cryin'  about;  she's  got  her  young  one  and  man  to 
her  heels."  I  carelessly  watched  for  an  opportunity  to 
speak  with  cue  or  both  of  these  childreu  of  sorrow.     As 


inrrriiN  vnoyi  Arkansas. 


229 


.  I 


rs 


(1 


!l 


re 

vS 
Jit 

to 
to 

■As 


\D 


tlicy  stit  on  a  pile  of  ('iil)lo  on  the  rear  deck  I  caught  the 
oijportmiity  to  iiKiiiirc  whiM'o  they  were  gohij;. 

"  We  do  n't  know  ;  onr  young  niussa  got  to  fVettin',  an' 
ole  niassa  gib  us  to  him  and  some  money,  an'  tole  him  to 
go.  We  lei''  tliree  bigger  ehiUun  bchin';  never  'sheets  to 
see  'em  ag'in  ;  I  wisli  lie  'd  buy  a  j)hinlation  somewliar,  so 
\\c  eouhl  go  to  work  ;  'pears  like  thar  's  no  eomCort  I'or  us 
j>()()r  j)eopIe,  only  when  we  's  got  work,  an'  stops  studyln' 
so  much." 

As  tiie  tears  began  to  fall  thiek  and  fast,  I  took  them 
by  the  hand  and  told  them  Jesus  was  the  friend  of  the 
poor,  and  he  had  many  followers  who  also  renuMubered 
them  in  prayer.  And  he  knew  of  their  sorrow,  and  as 
they  went  to  him  he  would  comfort  their  sorrowing  hearts. 
Pointing  !,o  his  wife,  he  said,  "She  knows  that,  and  I  wish 
I  did."  1  ehary-ed  them  to  make  no  mention  of  mv  havinj; 
spoken  to  them.  For  while  tlu^y  W(>re  slaves,  I  was  not 
free.  This  young  man  with  his  heavy-hearted  couple  left 
our  boat  at  Pine  Blutf. 

Surely  I  had  seen  enough  of  slavery  in  its  own  house- 
hold. Three  weeks  was  long  enough  to  see  and  feel  its 
virus.  I  met  my  old  friends  in  Cincinnati  with  a  glad 
heart,  where  I  could  draw  a  free  breath.  I  could  visit 
tlu!m  but  two  days  before  I  was  on  my  way  home,  where 
were  many  glad  hearts  to  listen  in  })rivat('  circles  to  my 
experience  in  a  slave  State.  More  than  ever  they  were 
convinced  that  the  cannon  and  sword  wouKl,  at  no  very 
distant  day,  destroy  the  monster. 

Our  institution  was  now  in  its  second  academic  year,  in 
charge  of  Joseph  D.  Millard,  of  Oberlin  CJollege.  The 
stockholders  had  turned  it  over  into  mv  hands,  making 
me  sole  proprietor  of  the  institution,  with  all  its  multiform 
cares  and  responsibilities.  I  had  also  frequent  calls  from 
fugitives  in  flight  for  freedom,  whose  claims  were  second 
to  none  other.  But  to  see  prejudice  in  our  students  melt 
away  by  an  acquaintance  with  our  work,  richly  repaid  me 


'»,'••(.' 


^  "7 -is 


km 

1  ■  t 

mi 


ii>^-'' 


II 
1 1 


I    »:' 


230 


A    WOMAN  8    LIP'K-WOIIK. 


■(  t , 


(i 


for  all  niv  <liiv  and  ni'dit  toillii';  and  caros,  that  soonicd 
almost  cnisliin^;  ut  limes.  I  |»urclia,<('d  Cor  tlie  young  men's 
hull  a  building  that  was  crccU'd  I'ur  a  Avatcr  cuii'.  That 
project  failed,  and  tlio  building  that  cost  $2,000  to  erect, 
"Nva.s  odered  for  three  hundred  dollars  for  my  institution. 
I  njoved  it  one  mile,  and  repaired  it  with  fifteen  rooms;  an- 
it  was  well  filled  the  first  year.  This  academic  year  o. 
our  usual  three  terms  our  students  numbered  over  two 
hundred,  mostly  of  those  who  had  been  teaching,  or  prc- 
])aring  themselves  for  teachers,  or  fir  a  collegiate  course. 
I  served  as  preceptress,  and  was  closely  confined  in  school 
Avork.  Ilealixing  iu  a  great  measure  the  importance  of 
molding  the  mind  of  youth  for  usefulness,  these  years  of 
constant  can*  passed  pleasantly  witii  the  hundreds  of  young 
people  of  our  own  and  adjoining  counties. 

A  colored    man,  Avith  a  farmer's  bag  swung  over  his 
shoulder,   approached    two   men   at   work   on   tlu;  railroa<l 
between  Palmyra  and  Adrian,  and  inquired  how  far  it  wa 
to  Michigan. 

"You  arc  in  ^Michigan,  you  fool  you,"  was  their  reply. 

"  Then,  will  you  please  tel'  me  how  far  it  is  to  Canada?" 

"  You  go  to  Adrian,  about  a  mile  ahead,  and  take  tho 
cars,  and  they  '11  take  you  to  Canada  in  two  hours ;  or,  if 
you  have  n't  money  to  go  that  way,  you  can  go  up  that 
road  till  you  come  to  the  Quaker  meeting-hous<},  and  go 
direct  east  two  miles  to  the  Widow  Ilaviland's  school,  and 
she  will  tell  you  how  to  go  to  Canada,  and  it  won't  cost 
you  any  tiling.     She  is  a  great  friend  to  your  people." 

He  soon  found  me.  I  got  my  supper  out  of  the  way, 
and  my  men  folks  out  again  at  their  work.  I  then  in- 
quired who  directed  him  to  me,  and  he  told  me  "two  men 
six  miles  from  this  school  said  you  was  a  frien'  to  my 
people ;  an'  I  thought  if  folks  knew  you  six  miles  off  I 
W(Mild  be  safe  to  come  to  you,  'case  I  wants  to  go  to  Can- 
ada right  soon.  I  started  once  before,  and  traveled  three 
nights  by  the  North  star ;  and  as  Indiana  was  a  free  State 


A  FUCJITIVK  FIIOM   KKNTUCKY. 


231 


V. 

V" 


Ult 


gf> 


in- 
liien 


au- 

liree 

tate 


I  thoui'lit  I  would  stop  and  buy  nic  t^imw  l)roa(l,  an'  tlio 
people!  was  ini;,dity  kind,  and  said  I  coidd  rest  a  week,  and 
llicy  would  pay  n»e  lor  tho  work  I  did,  to  lulji  mr  on  to 
Canada.  But  firs'  I  knew  my  master  come  i'or  nie,  an'  I 
seed  liini  pay  tliem  money — s'posc  't  was  reward." 

This  time  lie  was  .«o  cautious  that  lie  would  make  a 
friend  of  no  one  until  ho  reached  Michipin.  They  had 
always  heard  people  were  friends  to  colored  people;  in  this 
State.  He  was  six  weeks  from  Kentucky,  and  had  not 
dared  to  make  his  condition  known  to  any  on(>,  white  or 
Mack,  until  he  saw  a  colored  man  in  the  yard  at  Dr.  Bailev's, 
of  whom  he  in(piired  for  my  house..  I  told  him  that  his 
coat  and  i)ants  were  too  ragired,  and  that  I  must  repair 
them.  As  he  had  not  a  second  shirt,  I  took  one  of  my 
Bon's,  and  j,^ayc  him  a  couple  of  towels,  soap,  and  a  pail  of 
warm  water,  and  told  him  to  take  off  1  is  coat  for  me  to  mend, 
while  ho  went  up  stairs  to  the  room  oyer  the  kitchen  to 
change  his  shirt.  lie  hesitated  about  taking  off  his  coat, 
until  I  told  him  he  must.  "I  am  not  your  mistress,"  said 
I,  "and  yet  you  must  mind  me."  Tears  started  as  ho 
slowly  dr(>w  it  off,  when  the  torn  and  bloody  shirt-sleeyes 
reyealed  the  long  scars,  and  a  fi'W  unhealed  .sores  on  his  arms. 
Said  I:   "Are  these  the  marks  of  the  slave-whip?" 

He  nodded  assent,  while  tears  were  fidliug. 

"  When  was  this  done?" 

"Two  nights  afore  I  lef." 

"What  was  your  offense?" 

"  Dis  was  what  I  got  for  runnin'  off;  an'  I  fainted,  an' 
master  dragged  me  in  my  cabin,  and  did  n't  lock  me  in, 
'case  I's  so  weak.  I  reckon  he  thought  I 's  safe.  But  I 
got  an  ing'on  to  rub  oyer  the  bottoms  of  my  sluies  so  dogs 
could  n't  foller  me,  an'  I  got  four  loaves  o'  bread  and  a  big 
piece  o'  boiled  meat,  an'  crawled  into  de  barn  an'  tuck  dis 
bag  an'  buflalo-robe  for  my  bed,  an'  dragged  it  into  de 
woods,  and  tuck  my  bes'  frieu',  de  Norf  star,  an'  follered 
clean  to  dis  place." 


•ii 


232 


V'> 


A    WOMAN'S   LIFE-WORK. 


rmt 


t       •■ 


i! 


nil 


"  What  (lid  you  do  for  something  to  cat?" 

"  I  tuck  corn  iu  de  fiel'.  When  I  foun'  log  heaps  an' 
brush  burniu'  I  roasted  a  heap  to  las'  a  few  days ;  but  I 
was  weak  an'  trimhly  to  start,  an'  kep'  so  all  dc  way." 

After  this  little  history  I  made  him  take  off  his  vest, 
which  was  also  very  reluctantly  done.  But  what  a  sight! 
The  back  of  his  shirt,  was  like  one  solid  scab!  I  made  him 
ojien  his  collar,  and  I  drew  the  shirt  off  from  his  shoul- 
ders ;  and  from  the  appearance  of  the  shoulders  and  back 
it  must  have  been  cut  to  one  mass  of  raw  flesh  six  weeks 
before,  as  there  were  still  large  unhealed  sores,  I  told  him 
he  must  sit  here  until  I  called  iu  my  son  and  sou-iu-Iaw 
to  see  it.  As  they  looked  upon  that  man's  back  and  arms, 
and  walked  around  him,  said  Levi  Camburn,  my  son-in-law: 

"  I\Iother,  I  would  shoot  the  villain  that  did  that  as 
quick  as  I  could  get  sight  at  him." 

"But,  Levi,"  I  replied,  "he  is  not  fit  to  die." 

"  No,  and  he  never  will  be ;  and  the  quicker  he  goes 
to  the  i)lace  where  he  belongs  the  better.  Indeed,  I  would 
shoot  him  as  quick  as  I  would  a  squirrel  if  1  could  see  him." 

Joseph,  my  son,  responded : 

**  I  think  Levi  is  about  right,  mother;  the  quicker  such 
a  demon  is  out  of  the  world  the  better." 

*'  I  know  this  is  a  sad  sight  for  us  to  look  upon ;  but  I 
did  not  call  you  in  to  set  you  to  fighting." 

Many  of  my  friends,  and  my  son-in-law  Levi,  had 
thought  me  rather  severe  in  judging  the  mass  of  slave- 
holders by  the  few  unprincipled  men  who  had  fallen  under 
my  s|)ecial  notice ;  but  I  never  hoard  of  any  remark  what- 
ever from  my  son-in-law  or  neighbors,  after  this  incident, 
that  charged  me  with  being  too  severe  in  judging  slave- 
holders. I  furnished  the  i)oor  man  with  healing  salve,  and 
tried  to  persuade  him  to  rest  a  few  days  until  he  would  be 
able  to  work  ;  but  no,  he  nuist  see  Canada  before  he  could 
feel  safe.  He  was  very  loath  to  sleep  in  any  bed,  and 
urged  me  to  allow  him  to  lie  on  the  floor  iu  the  kitchen, 


H. 


FUGITIVE  FROM  LOUISIANA. 


232 


but  I  insisted  on  Ins  occupying  the  bed  over  the  kitchen. 
I  gave  liini  u  note  of  introduction  to  the  next  station  agent, 
with  a  little  change ;  and  a  few  weeks  after  I  heard  from 
my  friend,  whose  name  was  George  Wilson,  The  reporter 
said:  "The  first  two  weeks  he  seemed  to  have  no  energy 
for  any  thing.  But  then  he  went  to  work,  and  quite  dis- 
appointed us.  He  is  getting  to  he  one  of  the  best  hands 
to  hire  in  Windsor." 

This  was  the  second  fugitive  from  slavery  who  slept  in 
my  home — mine  being  the  first  house  they  had  dared  to 
sleep  in  since  leaving  thei-  okl  home.  A  few  days  later 
another  fugitive  came  from  Louisiana.  He  was  a  black- 
smith. I  wrote  to  a  wealthy  farmer  in  Napoleon,  Michi- 
gan, to  learn  whether  he  could  not  furnish  business  for  one 
or  the  other  of  two  new  arrivals  from  slavery.  To  .show 
the  feelings  of  thousands  of  our  citizens  at  this  date,  I  will 
extract  a  p(-.tion  of  his  letter: 

"There  are  constantly  in  our  moral  horizon  threaten- 
ings  of  strife,  discontent,  and  outbreaks  between  liberty 
and  slavery.  The  martyrdom  of  John  Brown  only  whets 
the  appetite  of  the  monster  for  greater  sacrifice  of  life. 
The  continued  imprisonment  of  Calvin  Fairbanks  and 
others  are  not  satisfying  portit)ns.  I  read  your  letter  to 
our  Arkansas  friend,  and  we  are  glad  to  learn  that  another 
lias  escaped  from  the  land  of  bondage,  whips,  and  chains. 
In  view  of  the  wrongs  and  cruelty  of  slavery,  how  truly 
may  it  be  said : 

'There  is  no  flesh  in  man's  obdurate  lieart ; 
It  does  not  feel  for  man.' 

"The  natural  bond  of  brotherhood  is  severed  as  flax 
that  falls  asunder  at  the  touch  of  fire.  Let  the  lot  of  bit- 
ter poverty  be  mine,  and    the  hand  of   man  blight   eve 


:ery 


hoj>e  of  earthly  enjoyment,  and  I  would  prefer  it  to  the 
condition  of  any  man  who  lives  at  ease,  and  shares  in 
every  fancied  pleasure,  that  the  toil,  the  sweat,  and  blood 

20 


! '  .*l 


I !  .'J 


I,      !       1, 


i    -I 


'I  -'^ 


''i. 


, '  f 


4    i 


( 


234 


■I  I 

'■'i! 

■::i 


A  woman's  life-work. 


of  slaves  can  procure.  Alas  for  the  tyrant  slave-holder 
when  Giod  .shall  nuike  hid  award  to  his  poor,  oppressed, 
and  despised  children,  and  to  those  who  seek  a  transient 
and  yet  delusive  means  of  present  ha})piness  by  trampling 
his  fellow  and  brother  in  the  dust,  and  appropriating  the 
soul  and  body  of  his  own  crushed  victim  to  the  gratifica- 
tion of  his  depraved  apj)etite8  and  passions.  I  would 
rather  enter  the  gloomy  cell  of  your  friend  Fairbanks,  and 
spend  every  hour  of  this  brief  existence  in  all  the  bitter- 
ness that  the  hand  of  tyrants  can  inflict,  than  live  in  all 
j)omj>  and  splendor  that  the  unpaid  toil  of  slaves  could 
lavish  upon  man.     Yours,  etc., 

"July  27th,  18(50.  ^''  ^-  I^'-xfokd." 

Our  blacksmith,  whom  we  called  Charles  Williams, 
proved  to  be  an  honest  and  industrious  man. 

We  solicited  over  seventy  dolhirs  for  a  poor  woman  by 
the  name  of  Jackson,  from  Marseilles,  Kentucky,  who  had 
bought  lierself  by  washing  and  ironing  of  nights,  after  her 
mistress's  work  was  done.  During  seven  long  years  she 
did  not  allow  herself  to  undress  except  to  change.  lier 
sleep  was  little  naj)s  over  her  ironing  board.  Seven  years 
of  night  work  brought  the  money  that  procured  her  free- 
dom. Hhe  had  a  son  and  daughter  nearly  grown,  and  to  pur- 
cdiase  their  freedom  she  was  now  bending  her  day  and  night 
energies.  Her  first  object  war  to  purchase  the  son,  as  his 
wsige^  would  aid  her  to  accumulate  more  readily  the  amount 
requ'red  for  the  <laughter,  as  she  had  the  promise  of  both 
of  her  children.  But  her  economizing  to  purchase  the  sen 
first  for  the  sake  of  his  help  failed,  as  the  nnister's  indebt- 
ness  compelled  him  to  sell  one  of  them,  and  market  was 
found  for  the  girl  of  sixteen.  Nine  hundred  dollars  was 
oHered,  and  the  distressed  mother  had  but  four  hundred 
dollars  to  pay. 

She  had  trusted  in  her  Lord  and  Savior  in  all  these 
years  of  toiling,  and  now  must  she  see  that  daughter  sold 


ii 


SLAVE   DAUGHTER.  235 

«own   the  river?     In   l,       i- 

"■""'■'  "■•'kc  it.     At  ie„tth  ,1     rf*-'"  ""  '""■  •"""   .«l.e 

Redeemed   i,,  .,,„  ,uZl2>Z  '"""  "^  """■'^'''^^  -^^ 

^I'O  «a,  aU„  t„  ,  j^    '^'-  '">•'<'»?  very  |,a„l  „„„  ,,,„ 

doactm  ,„w  ,,„  „  „,„„."=''<■'"''.  ""K™  to  fi,i|.  xi,o 
"'••"  1.0  c.ul.l  „„t  „,,it  I,„Z  ,  '  '""""«  '""  •'^'""■ly,  a,„l 
"■""'''  '"'vo  .o.o)i  I,c.  rS  I,  ""  '■"""'■'■  •"""■•  ''''"'-  ''o 
'""'  l"-''.vor  wa,  „,v  me ^^, ,       '"l"7  '""■''■'     "  "'-l'''^' 


'■■"iJ'Vod,  t„l.l  I,e,.  I,e     "  M      ""''>'  "■'"""  «l'o  luid  I«ou 
"■'"■'•I.  wa,,  ,„  „„  „   L,,,®™  1>"  a  little  secret  a.lvico 

g-™    hv.r  a   g„,„l    ree.,„,m  'j    '  ^'"""""".  ""'1  I'o  would 
Ko.cl,a,,,,„,,5.,,,^  -;;;■•  /"   '--^    ■.-..H.er,    Mr. 

J^l'^.v  >v„uM  aid  l,er  i,,  raLi       ,i       ,       "'  "'"  "'">'iti->ni.,.,. 

•':■"-»:  ''".  .^1.0  n„,.,    ,  n  fi     :    r  '"""' ••  «"r 

."»«'   IKT,  or  tltat  .«l,e  ,  ,     J  ,  '  v""T"  ""'  '"■  '  -i- 

■"'-l...»n,ort„Levici  ,,t   1  ^"'■"';    •"'■•   '-■"■'-" 
K--e  l.or  letter.,  of  i„tr«      t ,'       '";-!"/"''"  -'""im.,  wl,o 

""-■  1"-.,,  a„d  I,v  tl,  ,  ,,  "  ''•"•'"''  '"  '"-I"..  .■.„d 
'»-  "vo  hundred  dollar.,  t,,  T  ^  "'  """  '"''^  '""' 
sage  on  the  dausrhter      A,  T^      ''■"'"  "^  ""-  ■""■■(- 

.taat  overwork  ::JL,t        •  r'"'  "■"'  ''""'  f"""  <■""- 
'-r  ■•-'  I  took  In"'       Tff  '"  ■^''"•^'  "f".  to  Piv 

"•'""=  of  who,,,   h,„|  ,„;,„       '""'"">. '^'■"""•■■ntiefrieod,, 
>'■■""''  «"  '"  work  „„d  „         .,     r  r"-'"r'-'-  '"''1   '-  if 

^'""-lucu,  I  eaiied  ro  ,r  ;:h::.;'''r  "■•"""  -"  ■"^- 


t      ii 


iiM. 


i<'!i 


m 


236 


A  woman's  life-work. 


lit 


iM   i   ' 


i       i  ■ 

'       i'i 


i*    '      . 


!  1 


1i 


i         1 


n 


(lor  witliiu  his  massive  pile  of  brick,  and  reminded  him  of 
the  promise  he  made  me  on  a  certain  occasion,  Kow  was 
his  opportunity,  as  I  was  assisting  a  mother  to  purciiaso 
licr  (hiughtcr.  I  gave  him  the  Hne  through  whicii  I  had 
received  the  best  of  indorsements  as  to  her  industrious  and 
honest  Christian  character,  and  what  the  friends  had  done 
for  her  upon  whom  I  had  called,  and  but  for  her  poor 
health  would  have  brought  her  with  me.  After  listening 
attentively  to  all  my  statements,  he  arose  from  his  chair, 
walked  nervously  to  and  fro  across  Ids  room,  as  if  striving 
to  his  utmost  to  brace  against  sympathy,  and  said,  "  Mrs. 
Haviland,  I'll  not  give  a  penny  to  any  (me  who  will  steal 
slaves ;  for  you  might  just  as  well  come  to  my  barn  and 
steal  my  horse  or  wheat  as  to  help  slaves  to  Canada,  out 
of  the  reach  of  their  owners." 

"  Did  I  do  right,"  I  asked,  "  in  rescuing  that  TIamiltcm 
family  from  the  grasp  of  those  Tennessee  slave-holders?" 

"  If  I  had  taken  a  family  under  my  wing,  of  course,  I 
should  calculate  to  protect  them." 

"That  is  not  the  answer  I  call  for.  I  want  from  you 
a  direct  rejdy ;  did  I  do  rifjJit,  or  wrong,  in  that  case? 
You  remend)er  all  the  circumstances." 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  remember  it  well,  and  as  I  tell  you,  if  I 
had  undertaken  to  protect  a  family  I  should  do  it." 

"  I  shall  accept  no  prevarication  whatever,"  said  I;  "I 
demand  a  s(juare  answer,  and  it  is  your  duty  to  give  it ; 
did  I  do  right  or  wrong  in  that  case?" 

He  drew  out  his  pocket-book,  and  emptied  it  in  my 
lap.  "There  is  hardly  a  dollar,  and  if  I  had  more  y^\i 
should  have  it ;  of  course  you  are  right,  and  every  sane 
man  or  woman  knows  it;  but  my  political  relations  arc 
such  I  wish  you  would  n't  say  anything  about  it." 

It  is  no  new  thing  for  politics  to  stand  in  the  way  of 
humanity.  A  few  weeks  later  the  glad  mother  returned 
and  redeemed  her  daughter.  I  saw  them  together  at  Levi 
Coflin's,  iu  Cincinnati,  happy  iu  their  freedom. 


^   ! 


'^' 


COLLECTIXf;    MONEy. 

^"^  f-n  Chatham,  0,„«H„   f     T""'  "  ''"'"■'^  "  *»■ 
fl 'o  manage,!  „,  csc-apo  ,v      1         T""'  ''"""  --I'-vcry. 

«I.,eh  j,r„l,aUy  saved  us  Lit  '"  ^'"""'".  ■''  l'r..ce,,;i„^ 

figure  l,e,.a„.,o  „f  a  rl,eu,„a. ie  J  r  '"'""'"  ''"''  »  '"« 

f--     three  years  previ,,,,     ■'„'"'"/••     '^l-  Lad   heen 

'^,  i-;vi  cffi.,  and  „  ::   '^l^,f "-  -;"  .-".„„„.,„,„. 

'"•'-"  '•"  "  store  o,vue,I  by  a  D, ,         '""'^"■*''  """^^  '"  '-r 
«»  De„,.,erat.,  f;,r  ai<,  »        "'°  ''"•"■  ""'■.  "I  see  y„u  e„„,o 

ae,.„-n,a,,ce.,  regardio.';;:;;^-      " ^   -"•.>'".    n,y 
l'l-^*H.yed  stranger.  '''"'■"■     '"'">  "«   --i'arkli,^, 

"'10  IS  that  ffeutIonin..9"  r  •       •     , 

'"'■■--"o.n,s.e.iandtl:;:::;:;;;;;-^..,- 


238 


A    woman's   LIFE-WOriK'. 


i  'i' 


•D' 


'i' 


III  :i:; 
J,'  i'« 


Mr 


[■  ' 

' 

!:n 

i 

"Very  well;  I  will  give  five  dollars  for  the  siike  of 
twenty-five  dollars  from  Mr.  Lyons,"  and  1  placed  that  in 
my  lx)ok.  I  next  met  Htepheu  Allen  on  the  street  and 
told  him  Mr.  Lyons's  pledge. 

"All  right,"  he  said;  "I  will  give  four  dollars,  and  that 
takes  all  I  have  in  my  purse  to-day;  but  I  am  glad  to  give 
it  f(ir  the  twenty  dollars  we  arc  to  get  from  ^Iv.  Lyons." 
I  called  upon  Anson  Backus  with  my  report  and  he  said: 

"Here  is  five  dollars  for  the  twenty-five  from  ])Ir. 
Lyons."  I  then  stepped  into  the  Lyons's  bank.  "This,  I 
believe,  is  INIr.  Lyons,  the  proprietor,  who  pledged  a  few 
minutes  ago  five  dollars  for  every  one  dollar  I  would  get 
from  an  abolitionist  in  this  j)laco.*'  His  face  flushed  in 
reading  the  names  with  the  fives  and  four  dollar  bills  in  the 
book  I  handed  him. 

"There  is  no  abolitionist's  name  here." 

"Isn't  Edwin  Comstock  an  abolitionist?" 

"No,  he  isn't." 

"Isn't  Stephen  Allen  an  aboliticmist?" 

"No,  he  isn't." 

"Isn't  Anson  Backus  an  abolitionist?" 

"No,  he  isn't." 

"Then  I  ask  you  to  define  an  abolitionist,  for  I  call 
these  men  as  radical  abolitionists  as  avc  have  in  our 
country," 

"Well,  they  are  not." 

"Please  define  them  that  I  may  know  who  they  are." 

"They  are  those  who  go  down  Soutli  and  steal  slaves 
away  from  their  owners  and  report  that  tiiey  whip  men 
and  women  and  sell  husbands  and  wives  apart,  and  sep- 
arate children  from  their  mothers,  and  all  that  so;t  of 
thing,  when  it's  all  an  arrant  black-hearted  lie." 

"  Mr.  Lvons,  vou  know  all  these  flat  denials  are  sub- 
stantial  truths.  As  you  say  you  have  lived  in  the  South, 
you  know  in  your  own  heart  that  men  and  women  are 
cruelly  whipped,  and  that  fiimilies  are  separated,  and  these 


AnoLiTroxr.sTs. 


239 


cases  of  criif'Ifv  o^,,       •  i 

'^•■•'"•"■Icy  when  .,1,0  „,„  '   "  ,;   ".""'"'"I"'  «■•'»  u  slave  iu 

l*""itte.l  to  ,1„  ,,er     ,/'/'"""  "'."  "^■--    «l.e  was 

"era  to  a  ce,tai„  ,,lace  J  ,Z|        ","'"'  '"'r  "'hI  Iiri,,,, 

f"""d  thc-nsolvos  free  iu  clld;      ^''  T  "'  """^ 
»u  nb«Iiti„„istr>  ''•'•     ""■'  """  tlio  work  of 

"N",  it  isn't." 

out  7!;:  !^^:f  -''-o  to  «„„  „„„,  ^^  i  ..o  i  too  a. 

^\  Jule  tJiis  convor^'ifff.M  „•„     • 
"■-  I  .„„,,,,e,l  to  ,|,„„k  1,1,?        ,',",';'?•  '"'t  ".s  muol,  a, 

•'-•,"•"■■  '««'.-o  tl,e  1,0,  'f,t:'''  r?f- '"  '"'^  "■'•'^"' 
-f "  «"'■  1-00  a„.l  „a,,,  ,, '^  «  ;  '""'.  ""'1  tl,at  ho 

;'"''">'"'i-.n  wi,l,o„t  .<„..„;""'  ",'"'^'  '  «'"■"  ""'  ■">' 
"  '"  "'0,  „,„!  1„„,„^  J  '    '   '^  <""  five  d„ll,„,,  „,„,  I, 

fi"M.-ng,,,,,,,ooi,;;;::^  ;-7;"i.i-.^ 

"•en  w„l,  ,1,0  i,„,,,,^,,  „„,;',;^:^  "  ""•■  ''-^t  ,n,e,Tn,,o,l, 
Tool-  man,  I  „,•„•„,,  .■       .  '    ""• 

'■efore  I  ooul,    ,Tnl        '<^      "  """  "'"''  "'""  »  ''•- 
His  olork  left  tl,o  baj   '1?"'7''''''''  '"  ^'-"^   "'  '■.■". 
^"'""■».l.  it  is  .n,„l,   .',  r:^'  ,:! '^';;""■•e..eo,i  his  ti^ado. 

-ever  floe  fron,  „,;.„.     if  ,  "     '      "     '  ""•''  ■''"'■"•■'•  J'et  I 

"^''>^^''-^..™eo;;::i;:- :v 


210 


A    woman's   LIFK-WOltK. 


,'*''  '• 

■'tin 


« i 


•T 


l' '  ■< 


moiitlis  after  tliis  wo  roeeived  a  letter  from  Mintie  Berry, 
the  jinxious  wife,  for  whom  we  succeeded  in  raising  enough 
to  leuuite  the  long  separated  couj)le,  saying  that  their 
happy  reunion  was  the  result  of  favors  from  their  many 
friends,  to  whom  they  returned  grateful  thanks,  while  they 
j)raised  the  Lord  for  the  blessing. 

I  received  a  letter,  July  4,  1850,  from  poor  Calvin 
Fairbaidcs.  Eight  long  years  of  the  fifteen  he  had  suffered 
in  a  Kentucky  i)eultentiary.  How  sad  are  these  lines,  con- 
taining some  of  his  prison  reflections!     lie  says: 

"Speak  kindly,  ye  muses,  my  spirit  inspire. 
Breathe  softly  and  sweetly,  sweep  {.'cntly  my  lyre; 
There's  gloom  in  my  harp-string's  low  murinuring  tone, 
Speak  kindly,  speak  gently,  to  me  here  alone. 

My  spirit  all  broken — no  soul-cheering  ray 
To  warm  and  illumine  my  cold  dreary  way. 
No  kind  and  beloved  ouvh  of  days  that  are  gone — 
There  's  no  one  to  cheer  me,  I  'm  alone,  all  alcjne. 

From  friends  fondly  cherished  I  'ni  severed  away, 
From  the  hills  where  I  laughed  at  the  bright  early'day; 
And  the  morning  of  life  like  an  arrow  is  gone. 
Like  a  shadow,  a  moment,  and  here  I  'm  alone. 

The  guardians  of  childhood,  like  the  bright  early  flower, 
Have  blossomed  with  fragrance,  and  are  lost  in  an  hour  ; 
And  the  cycle  that  l)rought  them  has  eddied  and  gone, 
And  left  me  behind  them,  alone,  all  alone. 

How  solcnm  and  dreary,  how  somber  with  gloom. 
Are  my  lonely  reflections,  of  the  cold  silent  tomb, 
The  abo<le  of  a  father  once  fearless  and  bold, 
Of  a  sister  once  lovely,  now  silent  and  cold; 

Of  a  mother  lamenting  her  lost,  lonely  son. 
Awaiting  awhile,  but  a  day  to  bo  gone, 
And  to  mingle  with  spirits  of  blest  early  love, 
And  to  rest  in  the  bosom  of  Jesus  above. 

The  thought  of  these  loved  ones,  now  silent  for  aye, 
Or  lingering  and  trembling,  and  passing  away, 
lireatlies  sadness  on.  nature,  most  cheerful  and  gay. 
And  traces  tliese  nunil>ers — we  're  passing  away. 


DEATH  OF  OUR  PRINCIPAL.  241 

But  coaso  my  coinplaining,  we  '11  soon  be  at  peace, 
We  11  rest  from  our  laljors,  forever  at  ease; 
There's  rest  for  the  weary  and  joy  for  our  gloom, 
For  God  is  our  refuge,  in  heaven  our  home. 

Yes,  earth  with  her  pleasures,  and  all  that  we  love, 
We  shall  leave  for  the  land  of  bright  spirits  above; 
No  blasting  nor  mildew,  nor  soul-blighting  care, 
No  sorrow,  no  dying,  no  sin  sluiU  reign  there." 

^  The  year  1861  oixsneJ  full  of  excitement.  Both  Korth 
and  South  assumed  threatcninj^  attitudes.  liaisin  Institute 
was  affected  hy  it;  yet  the  work  of  the  Lord  prospered 
with  us.  Within  three  weeks  fourteen  of  our  students 
experienced  the  new  spiritual  life.  But  soon  our  ranks 
were  broken.  The  seventy-five  thousand  men  in  arms 
called  for  at  the  first  by  President  Lincoln  were  not  suffi- 
cient to  suppress  the  slave-holders'  rebellion.  Seventeen 
of  our  students  enlisted  for  the  bloody  conflicts  of  civil  war. 

Our  principal,  F.  M.  Olcott,  had  purchased  my  insti- 
tution, and  I  looked  forward  to  a  happy  release  of  the 
$15,000  indebtedness  that  was  resting  over  Raisin  Listi- 
tute.  The  room-rent  was  not  sufficient  to  meet  the  interest 
and  other  incidental  expenses,  and  the  tuition  fees  were 
required  to  pay  the  teachers.  This  indebtedness  rested 
upon  my  shoulders.  But  for  the  salutary  influence  it  ex- 
erted in  molding  the  characters  of  our  youth,  I  should 
have  failed. 

The  declining  health  of  our  dear  brother  F.  M.  Olcott 
])rought  increasing  darkness  over  our  future  prospects,  and 
the  memorable  battle  of  Bull  Run  increased  the  shock  that 
startled  the  liberty  lovers  of  our  nation  at  the  firing  upon 
Fort  Sumter.  The  cloud  that  hung  over  our  nation  also 
overshadowed  our  beloved  institution.  "We  closed  this 
year  with  sad  forebodings.  Our  beloved  principal  was  fast 
hastening  to  his  reward.  He  suggested  a  friend  of  his  to 
fill  his  position  the  ensuing  year,  and  died  of  consumption 
within  six  weeks  of  our  vacation.     He  was  a  noble  Chris- 

21 


li'i  • 


242 


A  woman's  lifp:-work. 


I 


I?  -n 
U    h  ■ 

i)  t 


V.        i: 


lit     »  i  > 
• ,      If  ;  ■  ' 

'  ('  '  ■ , 
■  ( 
if  :  ' 


1:'    -h 

".i  ■' 

11.      f  , 


'1  » 

»'» (J 


tian  man,  nnd  liml  endeared  himself  to  all  who  enjoyed 
^ho  jJiiviie^^G  of  his  aeqiuilntaiiee.  His  loss  was  severely 
felt  hy  his  students,  who  enjoyed  his  i'aithful  teaehin^,  and 
espceially  hy  myself,  as  I  had  indul^^ed  the  i'ond  hoi)e  that 
he  would  become  the  ellieient  permanent  principal. 

The  following  year  the  institute  opened  with  as  fair 
prospects  as  could  be  expected,  in  charge  of  Edward  A. 
llaight.  Until  the  third  year  of  the  war  our  school  was 
continued  in  successful  operation.  But  during  the  last 
term  of  18G3-4,  when  the  war  had  taken  seventeen  of  our 
nohlc  young  men  into  the  field,  and  the  condition  of  our 
soldiers,  daily  rej)orted  as  sudering  and  tlying  in  camp  and 
hosj/ital,  called  for  tender  nursing,  I  oflered  myself  for 
that  work. 

Leaving  an  excellent  young  woman  as  preceptress  in 
my  stead,  I  gathered  from  eighteen  hundred  to  two  thousand 
garments  for  freedmen,  and  lu)spital  supplies  for  soldiers, 
and  with  pai)crs  from  Austiu  Blair,  governor  of  our  State, 
from  F.  C,  Bcanum,  member  of  Congress,  and  from  others, 
I  left  my  sweet  home  and  the  loved  ones  who  still  clustered 
aroinul  it.  On  my  way  to  the  depot  I  was  met  by  Rev. 
P.  Powell,  who  inquired  how  much  money  I  had.  "  Fif- 
teen dollars,"  was  my  answer. 

"Why,  Mother  Haviland,"  he  exclaimed,  "you  cau 
never  go  with  only  that.  Stop  a  day  or  two,  and  I  '11  get 
up  eighty  or  a  hundred  dollars  for  you." 

"But  I  have  arranged  for  all  my  supplies  to  go  on  to- 
day. There  are  three  or  four  boxes  waiting  for  me  at 
Hillsdale,  and  I  wrote  them  I  would  be  there  to-night.  I 
have  not  asked  for  money,  but  for  sup})lies.  I  have  a  free 
pass  to  Chicago  and  return,  and  if  I  cau  get  a  pass  free 
to  Cairo  and  return,  I  think  I  can  get  along,  and  perhaps 
lives  may  be  in  peril  in  the  twenty-four  hours  I  might  be 
Avaiting  here  for  monev." 

"  Will  you  telegraph  me  if  you  do  not  succeed  in  get- 
ting the  passes  in  Chicago  ?  " 


it 


I 

)e 


FREE   PASS   TO  CAIRO.  243 

"  I  will,"  I  said,  and  went  forward. 

As  I  was  taking  Jcavo  of  iiiy  son  Joseph,  and  was 
about  to  enter  the  car,  he  held  nie  hy  the  hand,  and  said: 
"One  promise  1  want  y(»ii  to  make  me,  and  make  it  so 
strong  that  your  conscienee  will  come  in  ibr  a  share ;  and 
that  is,  that  you  will  stop,  once  in  a  while,  to  think  whither 
you  are  tired  or  not.  You  are  going  among  (Im;  sudi'ring 
aud  dying,  and  I  know  you  so  well  that  you  will  go  and 
go  and  do  and  do,  until  you  will  drop  before  you  will 
think  of  yourself.  If  you  will  make  me  this  j)romise  1  will 
feel  a  great  deal  better  about  you." 

"Joseph,"  I  said,  "I  will  promise  to  do  this,"  and  wo 
parted. 

On  visiting  the  sanitary  rooms  in  Chicago  I  met  i\[rs. 
Hague,  Mrs.  Livermore,  and  others,  who  thought  it  very 
doubtful  whether  I  could  secure  a  fare  free  to  Cairo,  as 
President  Arthur  had  shut  down  the  gate  on  free,  or  even 
half-fare,  i)as.scs.  lie  had  told  them  that  associations  migjit 
pay  their  agents  enough  to  pay  their  fare.  lint  I  was 
under  the  auspices  of  no  association.  I  was  only  a  self- 
constituted  agent,  aud  I  must  try.  licaning  on  the  arm 
of  my  guide,  I  went  to  President  Arthur,  and  intr()duce<l 
myself  by  handing  him  my  pa[)ers.  On  reading  them  he 
asked,  rather  sharply,  "  AY  hat  do  you  want?" 

"  I  am  hoping  to  obtain  a  free  i)a<s  to  Cairo  and  re- 
turn," I  replied,  "and  free  transportation  for  the  supplies 
referred  to  in  those  papers." 

"  Arc  you  alone,  nuidam?" 

"I  am  aloue." 

"  Well,  I  think  this  is  a  heavy  responsibility  for  a  lady 
of  your  age.  Arc  you  aware  of  the  responsibility  you 
assume  in  this?"  holding  the  paju'r  up. 

"  I  think  I  am  aware  of  the  res[)onsibility.  I  do  not 
know  but  the  experience  of  age,  however,  may  somewhat 
make  up  for  the  strength  of  youth." 

"  Well,  I  guess  it  will." 


l\   I' 


,ArJ, 


1  ''1:1 ' 


I  i 


244 


A  woman's  life-work. 


•  r, 


Settling,'  liiinHclf  back  in  his  easy  arm  chair,  he  said 
agiiin,  *'  How  h)w^  a  time  <lo  you  want  it  for?" 

"  I  can  not  ani^wcr  intolli;,a'ntly,"  I  said  ;  "  I  may  wi.sh 
to  return  for  more  supplies,  within  two  or  three  months, 
and  I  can  not  say  iiow  long  it  will  Uvke  to  disburse  these 
supplies  judiciously." 

"  Very  well,"  and  ho  took  my  pafxirs  to  his  chief  clerk, 
and  soon  brought  me  back  passes,  saying,  "There  are  your 
passes,  and  they'll  bring  you  back  any  time  this  year." 
He  gave  me  also  an  order  for  free  transportation.  I  left  his 
ofHee  praising  God  for  another  victory. 

I  was  met  in  the  door  of  the  siuiittiry  rooms  with  "Did 
you  succeed  in  getting  a  half-fare  pass  ? " 

"A  free  pass  to  Cairo  and  return,"  I  said,  "and  free 
transportation  for  all  my  supplies  from  President  Arthur." 

The  clerk  clapped  his  hands,  cheering :  '  You  arc  a 
favored  one ;  not  one  of  us  would  have  got  that  favor." 

Not  till  then  did  they  know  of  my  leaving  home  with 
only  fifteen  dollars ;  yet  it  was  sufficient. 

A  few  hours  more  landed  me  in  Cairo,  where  the  wharf 
•was  lined  with  cannon,  and  i)iles  of  shells  and  balls.  My 
first  work  was  to  find  a  soldiers'  home,  and  visit  hospitals. 
Oh,  what  scenes  at  cmcc  were  presented  to  my  view !  Here 
were  the  groans  of  the  wounded  and  dying  soldiers.  Some 
were  praying — a  few  were  swearing ;  and  yet  even  these 
would  patiently  listen  to  reading  the  ])romises  of  Jesus  and 
his  loving  iuvitutious,  and  become  calm. 


i 


!=?  i- 


I    ^ 


. 


HOSPITAL   WORK. 


245 


Chapter  X. 


I 


HOSPITAL  WOIIK. 

(y  Our  last  eliaptor  loft  us  in  hospital  work  at  Cairo.  A 
portion  of  llu;  fraMlmcn's  camp  of  throe  thousand  the  ofH- 
cors  j)roi)()so(l  to  roniovo  to  Lshind  No.  10,  and  wishod  nio 
to  take  most  of  my  supplios  to  that  place.  While  Avaitiiifj 
for  their  arrival  I  visitotl  the  United  States  Hospital  at 
^lound  City,  a  few  miles  up  the  Ohio  River.  Here,  too, 
were  dying  soldiers,  one  of  whom  especially  attracted  my 
attention,  as  he  wa.s  perfectly  sane  and  ratlior  unusually 
intelligent.  I  immediately  addressed  him :  "  My  son,  are 
you  prepared  to  go  hence?" 

"  ^Mother,"  he  said,  "  that  is  a  matter  which  T  ought  to 
have  attended  to  long  ago,  but  I  did  not,  and  now  it  is 
too  late!     I  am  dying." 

"Oh,  do  not  say  ton  late!  Remember  the  condition  is, 
^Believe  and  thou  shalt  be  saved f  'As  thou  hast  believed,  so 
shall  it  be  unto  thee.'  These  are  the  sure  promises  of  our 
merciful  Redeemer.  Remember  the  thief  on  the  cross 
looked  at  him  with  repenting  spirit  n.ud  living  faith,  and 
said,  '  Lord,  remember  me  when  f  hou  comest  into  thy 
kingdom;'  and  the  quick  reply  was,  'This  day  thou  ,«haU 
be  with  me  in  Paradise.'  Can  you  not  trust  such  a  Re- 
deemer?— such  a  loving  Father  as  is  our  God,  who  saves 
to  the  uttermost  all  who  ask  with  believing  hearts?"  He 
firmly  held  my  hand  and  said,  "I  will  try." 

Our  prayers  were  mingled  in  asking  for  the  enlighten- 
ing of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  while  he  was  asking  for  the 
forgiveness  of  all  his  sins,  that  he  might  receive  an  evidence 
of  acceptance,   he  seemed  eucouragej  and  gave   me   the 


\    ' 


i!.        I 


1         ^ 


w 


■".!■( 

I 


: 


1  v-^ 


i 


If 


I 


246 


A  m'oman's  life-work. 


names  and  address  of  liis  parents,  for  me  to  write  tliem  of 
hi.s  hope,  in  departing',  of  a  better  future. 

There  was  also  great  suflering  in  the  eamp  of  freedmen. 
The  officers  wished  m'i  to  aid  them  in  persuading  tliese 
people  to  go  down  to  the  ishind,  as  they  were  afraid  of 
being  returned  to  slavery  at  the  close  of  the  war,  and 
desired  to  j)ush  as  far  into  the  free  States  as  possible,  and 
very  loath  to  go  back  "an  inch,"  as  one  of  the  officers 
expressed  it.  I  took  the  names  of  these  almost  nude  j)eo- 
ple,  whom  I  instructed  to  come  to  my  tent;  as  the  officers 
said  I  should  have  one  for  the  j)urj)osc  of  giving  out  cloth- 
ing to  the  most  needy  among  them.  They  assured  them 
that  their  freedom  was  a  fixed  fact ;  that  they  would  never 
see  the  day  again  when  they  would  be  separated  by  being 
sold  ai)art.  This,  I  found,  was  a  greater  inducement  for 
them  to  consent  to  the  request  of  the  officers  to  go  to  the 
island  than  all  the  clothing  I  could  promise. 

But  one  poor  woman  came  to  the  captain  weeping,  say- 
ing, *'My  poor  baby  is  dyiu',  an'  I  can't  leave  him.  lie  is 
my  only  chile  left  me."  In  the  great  hurry  and  bustle  of 
business  the  quick  reply  was,  "Go  back  and  I'll  see  to  it." 
As  she  left  the  office  he  turned  to  me  and  said,  "I  don't 
know  whether  it  is  so  or  not:  they  get  up  all  sorts  of 
excuses.'*  As  she  was  not  yet  out  t)f  sight,  I  followed  her 
to  the  slab  hut  and  found  it  true.  An  hour  later  and  the 
baby  of  eight  yeans  was  in  the  sjjirit  world. 

"Now,  missus,  I  can't  go  an'  leave  my  dead  baby  for 
de  wharf- rats  to  eat,  an'  do  boat  goes  out  at  three 
o'clock." 

I  reported  the  death  of  the  child  and  of  the  distress  of 
the  mother.  "Tell  her,"  said  the  officer,  "  we  will  see  that 
her  child  is  buried  this  nfternoon,  and  I  want  her  to  go  on 
this  boat."  I  told  the  mother  of  the  captain's  wish,  and 
that  I  would  see  that  her  child  was  biiried. 

"Oh,  missus,  it  'i>cars  like  I  can't  leave  him  so;  they'll 
leave  him  here  to-night,  au'  dese  wharf-rats  are  awful.     Da 


DEATH   OF    A   CHILD. 


247 


, 


eat  one  dead  cliilc's  face  all  one  side  off,  an'  one  of  its  feet 
was  all  jrnawed  off.  I  do  n't  want  to  leave  my  chile  on  di3 
bare  grown'." 

Tlie  grief  of  this  poor  mother  was  distressing  in  the 
extreme.  She  knew  not  whether  her  hnshand  and  three 
older  children,  sold  away  two  years  })revionsly,  were  still 
slaves  or  living,  as  she  had  never  heard  a  word  from  them 
since  they  were  taken  from  her.  Those  sad  separations, 
she  said,  were  much  harder  to  Ixjar  than  the  death  of  this 
child.  But  she  consented  to  go,  on  my  promise  to  sec 
that  her  child  was  buried  before  night.  After  she  left  for 
the  boat  I  went  to  the  captain  to  sec  his  promise  perl'ormcd. 
He  seemed  very  indill'erent. 

"What  is  the  difference  if  that  child  shouldn't  bo 
buried  this  afternoon  or  wl;'ther  wharf-rats  eat  it  or  not?" 

"You  promised  to  have  it  buried  this  afternoon,"  I  said, 
"and  I  told  that  poor  woman  I  would  see  that  it  was 
d(tne;  and  I  see  no  other  way  than  to  hold  you  to  that 
j)romise,  for  I  shall  meet  her  on  the  island,  and  I  must 
report  to  her." 

kSaid  the  captain,  "You  won't  allow  such  things  as  these 
to  break  your  heart,  after  being  in  the  army  a  little  while 
and  seeing  our  soldiers  burieil  in  a  ditch,  with  no  other  cofKn 
or  winding  sheet  than  the  soldier's  dress.  For  ti>.<3  lime 
being  we  bury  hundreds  just  in  that  way;  and  when  from 
live  to  lil'tecn  die  in  one  day,  a-s  sometimes  is  the  case  in 
these  large  camps,  we  can  not  make  coffins  for  them,  but 
wv  roll  them  uj)  in  whatever  they  have.  If  we  can  get  a 
i)iece  of  board  to  lay  them  on  when  we  put  them  in  their 
graves  we  do  well."  "  But  here  you  have  lund)er  and 
j)]enty  of  carj)enters,  antl  you  can  have  a  jdain  coiHn  for 
the  dead,  and  I  do  hope  one  will  be  made  for  this  child. 
As  I  told  the  mother  I  woidd  see  that  a  coffin  was  made 
for  her  child  and  have  it  buried  this  afternoon,  I  will  do 
it."  He  called  the  sergeant  and  gave  the  order  for  a  car- 
peuter  among  the  soldiers  to  make  it,  and  I  saw  the  piuo 


II 

V 


<(  t  i 


I'm! 


248 


A  woman's  life-work. 


M  ■  ■'  ' 

I'l  'J-    M 

I  !  V 

\  '<:  . 


A' 


n 


i  ;   ( 


board  coffin  go  to  the  buryiug  ground  with  the  child  just 
before  sunset. 

Colonel  Thomas  and  the  captain  doubted  whether  I 
could  secure  transportation  from  General  Taliaferro,  who 
was  in  charge  of  that  ix)st.  They  said  he  was  a  cross  old 
bachelor,  and  had  said  he  would  not  give  another  woman 
transportation  to  go  into  the  army.  "But,"  said  Colonel 
Thomas  to  the  captain,  "she  will  be  more  likely  to  suc- 
ceed if  siie  goes  herself  without  any  word  from  us." 

On  the  following  day  my  car-load  of  supplies  arrived, 
and  I  began  to  regret  that  I  had  not  waited  a  day  or  two 
longer  at  home  for  the  one  hurdred  dollars  that  could  have 
been  placed  in  my  hands,  so  tha  I  could  use  it  in  an  emer- 
gency if  I  should  be  refused  tiansportation.  With  some 
misgivings  I  entered  the  general's  office  and  requested  an 
interview.  I  introduced  myself  by  handing  him  my  papers, 
which  he  looked  over,  and  pleasantly  asked  what  I  wished. 

"I  am  hoping,"  I  said,  "to  secure  transportation  to 
Island  No.  10,  and  to  Memphis,  Tennessee,  for  myself  and 
the  supplies  referred  to  in  tiiose  papers." 

"Well,  madam,  I  think  your  papers  are  worthy  of 
attention,  and  I  will  grant  your  request." 

This  was  said  in  such  a  pleasant  manner  I  almost  con- 
cluded the  general  had  been  misrepresented,  but  how 
changed  his  tone  when  he  called  his  adjutant,  who  in  an 
instant  stood  before  him.  "Go  tell  my  clerk  to  come  in." 
He  hurried  to  obey  his  command,  and  returned  with  the 
report,  "  lie  is  gone." 

"Gone!  where  has  he  gone?" 

"  He  went  a  few  mniutes  ago  to  Church." 

"  Gone  to  Church !  He  has  no  business  to  go  to 
Church,  or  anywhere  else,  without  my  permission;  he  has 
no  riglit  to  leave  his  office  without  my  order." 

This  he  said  in  such  a  stern,  vociferous  manner  that  I 
wished  myself  out  of  his  presence.  But  turning  to  me,  in 
a  mild  tone,  he  said  * 


TRANSPORTATION. 


249 


**  Mrs.  Haviland,  you  do  n't  want  transportation  to- 
night. You  come  to-morrow  morning  at  nine  o'clock,  aud 
you  shall  have  the  papers." 

With  heartfelt  thanks  I  left  his  office.  On  my  return 
I  found  Colonel  Thomas  and  the  captain  anxiously  waiting 
to  learn  the  result  of  my  call  on  the  general.  They  met 
me  at  the  door  of  their  office,  and  asked : 

"What  is  the  news?" 

**  The  general  grants  transportation  for  myself  and  sup- 
plies to  Island  No.  10  aud  to  Memphis,"  I  wiid. 

By  their  clapi)ing  of  hands  one  would  have  thought 
they  had  got  cheering  news  from  the  army.  I  found  they 
too  felt  the  weight  of  re.^pousihility  in  this,  as  they  had 
solicited  my  aid  in  getting  these  freed  people  to  go  to 
the  island. 

The  following  morning  I  found  a  hoat  was  going  to 
leave  at  half- past  eight  o'clock,  but  too  early  for  the 
promi.sed  transportation.  I  told  the  captain  of  the  boat 
of  my  wi.-^h  to  go  with  supplies  to  Island  No.  10  and  to 
Memphis,  but  had  the  pronii.«e  from  the  general  to  have 
the  papers  at  nine  o'clock.  A  captain  in  the  army,  stand- 
ing by,  told  him  he  could  take  me  with  supplies  with  all 
safety;  for  if  General  Taliaferro  had  promised  transjiorta- 
tion  he  could  rest  assured  the  general  at  Columbus,  Ken- 
tucky, would  be  sure  to  give  it. 

"  Very  well,"  he  .said;  "  where  are  your  supplies?" 

They  were  poiu^ed  out,  and  he  ordered  them  to  be  put 
on  board  at  once. 

On  landing  at  Columbus  I  called  on  the  general,  and 
secured  transportation  from  Cairo  to  i)laces  of  destination. 
Now  I  thought  all  was  straight;  but  as  I  handed  my  paper 
U)  the  captain  he  .«aid : 

"  This  is  an  order  for  tninsportation.  The  captain- 
quartermaster  is  to  fill  it  out,  to  be  good  for  any  thing." 

I  confessed  my  ignorance  of  army  red-ta|x%  and  took 
back  the  pajHira  to  have  them  finished.     lie  incjuired  for 


!l       i! 


•■        ' 


250 


V'» 


A  WOMAN'S   LIFE-WORK. 


ft 

17- 

I  ■ 


i*  I  . 


L'f  ' 


■  U 


Ir; 


i.  : 
!i  i 


0 


Q 


my  pass  from  the  provost- marshal.  That,  too,  I  knew 
notliiiig  about;  but  tlie  army  cuptiiin  came  to  my  relief, 
taking  my  pai)ers  aiul  getting  the  transportation  filled, 
with  a  pass  from  the  provost -marshal.  These  lessons  I 
found  important  in  all  my  after  work. 

We  soon  landed  at  Island  No.  10,  the  area  of  which 
was  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  available  plow  laud, 
Avith  an  excellent  orchard  of  three  hundred  bearing  apple 
and  peach  trees.  Upon  this  island  were  seven  hundred 
freedmen,  who  were  making  good  use  of  the  rich  donations 
of  twenty-five  plows,  with  harrows,  hoes,  axes,  rakes,  and 
garden  and  field  seeds,  from  Indiana  and  Ohio.  Their 
superintendent,  Chaplain  Tht)mas,  told  me  that  he  never 
saw  a  more  willing  and  obedient  jjcople.  They  mostly 
lived  in  tents.  Government  had  furnished  lumber  to  erect 
a  few  temporary  buildings.  An  old  dilai)idated  farm- 
house, and  a  few  log-huts  formerly  occu})ied  by  the  over- 
seer and  slaves,  were  tiic  homes  of  Captain  Gordon  and 
Surgeon  Hansom,  with  their  families,  who  seemed  to  enjoy 
camp  life  as  well  as  any  I  had  seen.  They  had  in  charge 
four  companies  of  ,'soldiers.  Their  hospital  assumed  an  air 
of  neatness  and  comfort. 

We  took  a  stroll  over  the  battle-ground,  and  saw  the 
deep  furrows  ploweo  by  the  terrible  shells,  in  which  a  horse 
might  be  buried.  Here  and  there  were  interspersed  "rebel 
rat-holes,"  as  they  were  calletl,  dug  seven  or  eight  feet 
deep,  and  nearly  covered  with  planks  and  two  or  three  feet 
of  earth,  in  which  tliey  droj)ped  themselves,  after  firing, 
to  reload  and  be  secure  from  flying  shot  and  shell.  I 
j)i('ked  up  a  couj)le  of  cannon-balls  about  the  size  of  a 
small  tea-cup,  of  which  a  peck  is  used  for  a  load.  An 
t)fiiciT  told  me  that  he  saw  ;  enty-five  rebels  killed  with  one 
discharge  of  these  balls.    O,  what  slaughter  of  human  life! 

CJovernment  provided  a  physician  and  dispensary  fi)r 
the  freed  jn'ople.  Their  hospital  was  a  tent,  like  the  ma- 
jority of  the  regimental  hospitals  in  the  army.     Tho  first 


AN  OLD  FREEDMAN. 


251 


I 


tent  I  visited  was  occupied  by  an  aged  pair,  with  two 
grown  children,  who  ai)peared  (jiiito  intelligent.  Hard 
treatment  and  cruel  .sej)arati()ns  had  filled  the  greater  por- 
tion of  their  lives.  As  1  was  making  remarks  on  the 
wickedness  of  slavery,  said  the  old  man,  with  tearful  eyes, 
*'  Please  stop  till  I  bring  in  my  daughter  and  family  from 
the  next  tent."  They  soon  entered.  "  Please  go  on,"  said 
the  father.  AVhile  tears  were  coursing  down  the  old  man's 
furrowed  cheeks,  in  undertone  he  ejaculated,  "O  Lord,  I 
did  not  ex})ect  to  live  to  see  this  day." 

At  the  close  of  my  remarks  he  arose  to  his  feet,  and 
in  the  most  pathetic  manner  addressed  his  lamily  as  follows: 

"  ;My  wifo  and  children,  have  you  thought  we  .should  ever 
see  this  ?  I  tear  we  are  not  thankful  ent)Ugh  to  God.  Do 
we  prize  this  precious  privilege  as  we  ought?  That  dear 
wife  was  sold  from  me  nearly  twenty  years  ago;  soon  after 
my  children  were  sold,  and  I  thought  my  heart  was  broke. 
They  punished  me  because  1  grieved  so  much,  and  then 
sold  me  to  be  taken  another  way.  O,  how  1  i)rayed  for 
death  to  hide  me  from  my  troubles,  for  I  thought  none 
could  see  as  much  as  I  did.  Many  gloomy  nights  and 
days  of  sorrow  I  spent.  I  could  hear  no  word  from  my 
wife,  and  nothing  from  my  children.  My  mast(>r  told  me 
I  should  never  hear  from  them  again,  because  I  made  so 
much  trouble  over  it ;  he  would  send  me  as  far  as  wind 
and  water  would  carry  me,  so  I  would  never  hear  from 
them  again.  I  remembered  the  words  of  my  poor  old  fa- 
ther upon  his  death-bed,  when  he  gave  me  this  Bible: 
*  My  son,  the  same  (iod  that  made  that  Bible  learned  me 
to  read  it,  and  learned  me  to  endure  hard  trials  patiently. 
Ilemend)er,  my  son,  the  same  God  will  do  the  same  for 
you  if  you  go  to  him  for  help ;'  and  so  he  has.  Praise  Ix) 
to  the  Lord  forever!"  He  took  from  a  box  a  Bible,  all 
spotted  over  with  mold,  without  and  within:  "This  Bible 
has  been  manna  to  my  soul  for  many  years.  God  has 
learned  me  to  read,  as  he  did  my  poor  father.     He  has 


,i» 


:i 


252 


A  woman's  i.ifp>woric. 


'); 


I'i  ■ 


:fl 


iJi;i 


^1 


l)een  my  support.  I  liave  prayed  these  many  years  for 
(leliverancG  from  bondage,  and  my  faith  told  mo  it  would 
come;  hut  I  didn't  know  it  would  come  in  my  time.  O, 
what  a  Savior  is  our  Jesus!  That  dear  wife  was  compelled 
to  marry  another  man  in  these  long  years  of  separation. 
He  was  taken  into  the  rebel  army,  and  she  came  to  the 
Union  camp.  A  few  days  ago  we  met  at  Fort  Pillow; 
and  there  we  met  our  two  long  lost  children ;  and  here  we 
found  this  daughter  and  family.  0,  how  vamdcrful  are 
God's  ways!  O,  niy  wife,  my  children  I  let  us  live  nearer 
that  Almighty  Deliverer  than  ever  before,  and  praise  his 
holy  name  forever."  And  the  tall  figure  sat  down,  amid 
sobs  and  tears.  The  spirit  of  that  family  sermon  I  can 
never  forget. 

This  noble  man,  Uncle  Stephen,  was  but  a  few  days 
Ijefore  a  slave ;  yet  with  the  dignity  of  a  patriarch  he  as- 
sumed his  new  relation.  lie  was  evidenllv  a  sclf-tau":ht 
man,  more  intelligent,  and  using  more  correct  language, 
than  any  I  had  met  on  the  island. 

On  leaving  my  tent,  tickets  were  given  with  explana- 
tions of  my  mission,  which  was  both  new  and  strange  to 
them.  In  another  tent  I  found  a  young  man  who  had 
attempted  to  escai)e  to  our  lines  more  than  a  year  before, 
but  was  overtaken  and  shot  by  his  ma^^tcr,  shivering  the 
bones  six  inches  above  the  ankle,  making  amputation 
necessary.  He  was  beginning  to  use  his  wooden  leg.  His 
master  was  taken  prisoner  by  our  men  a  few  days  before, 
and  he,  with  one  hundred  fellow-slaves,  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  Union  army.  Pie  was  fitted  with  a  whole  suit. 
This  was  done  in  but  few  instances,  the  general  destitution 
forbidding  it.  It  would  have  pleased  the  donors  to  see  mo 
with  oj)en  boxes,  taking  out  garment  after  garment,  meas- 
uring and  delivering,  upon  presentati(m  of  tickets  pre-- 
viously  given,  to  fifty  or  a  hundred  at  a  time;  and  to  listen 
to  the  many  thanks  and  hearty  "God  bless  you  I"  as  each 
garment  was  takeu. 


DISTUrnUTINO   GARMENTS. 


253 


At  brcalvfast  tlic  adjutant  told  mc  of  five  little  boys 
bcloiiKin;j  to  sumo  of  the  Fort  Pillow  families  that  were 
alm()i<t  naked,  and  that  lie  had  given  one  little  fellow  a  j)air 
of  his  own  pants.  I  told  him  to  bring  them  to  the  com- 
missary tent  any  time  from  nine  to  twelve  o'clock,  as  I  had 
arranged  to  meet  the  children  to  whom  I  had  given  tick- 
ets; and  if  he  brought  them  or  gave  them  a  slip  of  paper 
with  his  name,  it  would  serve  the  same  purpose.  Soon 
we  were  beside  the  boxes  iu  our  comnn'ssary  tent  measur- 
ing, fitting,  and  handing  out,  when  up  stepped  the  little 
fellow  of  eight  summers  with  the  tall  man's  pants,  rolled 
over  and  over  at  the  bottom,  with  one  suspender  tied 
around  him,  the  other  placed  over  his  shoulder  to  hold 
them  on.  His  eyes  sparkled  as  a  new  suit  was  thrown 
over  his  arm;  calling  out,  "Sec  here,  Johnnie,  what  I  got!" 
*'Ycs,  look  at  mine!"  was  the  quick  reply,  while  on  the 
other  side  stood  a  little  girl  who  exclaimed,  in  surprise, 
"Oh,  ]\Iilla,  my  dress  has  a  pocket,  and  see  what  I  found," 
as  she  drew  out  a  rag  doll  two  incht.;  long.  Then  a  dozen 
other  little  girls  instituted  a  search  and  fouiul  similar  treas- 
ures, which  I  recognized  as  coming  from  certain  little  girls 
in  Hudson,  ^Michigan.  All  were  on  tip-toe  with  excite- 
ment, and  these  remarks  were  flying  through  this  crow<l 
of  little  folks  when  the  adjutant  came  to  the  tent-door. 
Laughing  through  tears,  he  said,  "Have  you  ever  thought 
of  the  Savior's  words,  'Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto 
the  k(td  of  these,  ye  have  done  it  unto  me?'" 

"That  thought  had  come  to  my  mind  before  engaging 
in  this  mission,  and  it  is  that  which  drew  me  from  my 
Michigan  home." 

"Doesn't  this  pay  you,"  he  continued,  "  for  coming  all 
this  distance,  to  sec  those  sparkling  eyes  and  light  hearts 
dancing  with  joy?" 

"Here  is  verified  the  declaration  that  it  is  more  blessed 
to  give  than  to  receive,"  was  my  reply. 

A  woman  came  one  evening  with  the  following  querns: 


\ 


i  i; 


I 


\i 


254 


A  woman's  life-work. 


';4t 


i 


"Missus,  Avlitir  nil  dcsc  clo'es  come  from?  Docs  gov'- 
mcnt  send  'em  to  us?" 

On  listening  to  my  explanation,  "An'  don't  gov'mcnt 
pay  ym  luc  bringin'  'em  to  us?" 

After  nil  her  questions  had  been  disposed  of  she  sat  for 
a  moment  in  a  deep  study;  then  said  in  sur])rise,  "Do 
Norf  mus'  he  mighty,  mighty  rich  to  send  so  much  money 
down  here  to  carry  on  de  war  and  send  so  much  to  eat, 
and  den  da  send  so  many  clo'es  an'  keep  so  many  men 
hero  too ;  indeed  da  mus'  be  mighty  rich." 

They  were  preparing  to  open  a  school  for  them.  Henry 
Roundtree,  a  missonary,  uas  laboring  among  them,  and 
•would  disburse  clothing  sent  to  that  point. 

After  spending  oveiL  a  week  on  this  beautiful  island, 
on  my  way  to  the  steamer,  I  was  hailed  by  a  fenuile  voice 
calling  out,  "  ]\rissus,  missus,  don't  pass  by  dis  yere  way." 
Turning  in  the  direction  of  the  call,  I  saw  a  very  old 
woman  sitting  on  a  log,  clad  in  a  man's  coat,  hat,  and 
shoes,  with  an  old  patched  negro  cotton  skirt.  On  ap- 
proaching her  I  remarked,  as  I  took  the  bony  hand,  "You 
are  very  old." 

"Can't  tell  how  ole  I  is,  only  I  knows  I's  been  hero 
great  Avhile.  You  see  dat  white  house  over  de  river  dar? 
Dat  's  been  my  home  great  many  year,  but  massa  drove  me 
off,  he  say,  'case  I's  no  'count,  gwine  round  wheezin'  like 
an  ole  boss,  an'  snap  a  gun  at  me  an'  say  he  shoot  my 
brain  out  if  I  did  n't  go  to  de  Yankees.  An'  missus  come 
out  an'  say  she  set  fire  to  my  cabin  some  night  an'  burn 
me  up  in  it.  *Go  'long  to  de  Yankees;  da  wants  niggers, 
an'  you  aint  no  'count  no  how.'  An'  I  tolo  'em,  *  Wa'n't  I 
'count  good  many  years  ago?'  But  da  say,  *Clar  out  wid 
you.'  An'  I  seed  some  boys  fishing'  on  de  bank,  an'  da 
fetch  me  over." 

Looking  down  at  her  stockingless  feet  she  said,  "Missus, 
I  ain't  had  a  suit  o'  clo'es  in  seven  years."  I  told  her  if 
tlieye  was  a  woman's  garment  left  she  should  have  it.     And 


OiN    TlIK   STKAMEU. 


255 


D 


(9 


I  would  tell  the  good  people  about  her,  aud  they  would 
send  her  a  suit  of  clothes. 

"Tauk  you,  missu.s;  CJod  Lle.^s  you!" 

And  I  left  the  giant-like  old  woman,  whose  head  was 
bleached  by  the  fnjst.s  of  eighty  or  ninety  Winters.  While 
waiting  on  the  gunboat  for  the  steamer,  I  referred  to  the 
old  woman  I  had  seen,  when  one  of  the  men  turned  to  his 
comrade  and  said,  "That's  the  same  strange-appearing  old 
woman  we  brought  over,"  and  he  repeated  the  same  story 
she  related  to  me.  Said  one,  "Such  })e()plu  ought  to  bo 
made  to  bite  the  dust.  Her  master  took  the  oath  of  alle- 
giance to  save  his  property;  but  he  has  no  more  principle 
than  a  hyena  to  turn  out  such  an  old  white-headed  woman 
as  that  to  die  like  a  brute." 

Such  arc  some  of  the  incidents  that  gradually  changed 
the  politics  of  the  army.  They  made  oiu-  Butlers  and 
Hunters  bv  scores.  Thev  saw  that  man's  inhumanitv  to 
man  was  the  outjrrowth  of  slaverv.  Thev  clcarlv  iK'r- 
ceived  that  the  iron  rod  of  o])j)ression  must  be  broken,  or 
the  unholy  rebellion  would  succeed. 

At  four  P.  jM.  I  end)arked  for  another  field.  On  board 
the  steamer  were  a  number  of  officers  and  soldiers,  and 
three  women  who  were  ex-slave  owners.  They  had  (piictly 
listened  to  the  conversation  of  the  officers  on  establishing 
schools  among  the  fre(;dmen,  and  taking  them  into  tUc 
army  as  soldiers.  I,  too,  had  been  a  silent  listener.  After 
the  officers  had  left  the  cabin,  one  of  tlie  women  drew  her 
chair  near  me,  and  in  a  subdued  tone  said  : 

"Do  you  believe   it  is  right  to  set  up  schools  among 


niggers , 


"Certainly  I  do,"  was  my  reply,  "as  they  have  as 
good  a  right  to  become  intelligent  as  any  other  class  of 
people." 

"Do  you  think  that  it  is  right  to  make  soldiers  out  of 
niggers  r 

"Certainly,  if  it  is  right  for  any  class  of  people." 


250 


A    woman's    LFFK-WOUK. 


♦  '1 


:  • '  '       I  i 


After  looking  nroimd  to  see  whether  any  officer  was  in 
hearing,  .4io  added: 

"And  do  you  think  it  riglit  to  rob  us  of  our  niggers,  as 
the  Yankees  are  doing?" 

"Certainly,  if  you  call  it  robbery  to  allow  the  negroes 
to  go  where  they  i)lease." 

My  replies  were  in  my  common  tone  of  voice,  yet  it 
eeemed  to  frighten  her.  She  would  take  a  look  to  see 
whether  an  officer  was  near.  Then  would  go  on  with  her 
queries  in  an  undertone. 

"I  tell  you  it  is  nn'ghty  hard,  for  my  pa  paid  his  own 
money  for  our  niggers;  and  tliat's  not  all  they've  roblnid 
us  of.  They  have  taken  our  horses  and  cattle  and  sheep 
and  every  thing. ^^ 

As  I  had  my  little  Bible  in  my  liand,  I  turned  to  the 
j)redicted  destruction  of  Babylon  in  lievelation,  and  read, 
*'  Fine  flour,  and  wheat,  and  beasts,  and  sheep,  and  horses, 
and  chariots,  and  slaves,  and  souls  of  men."  "You  see 
liore,"  I  said,  "  arc  the  very  articles  you  haved  named. 
And  God  is  the  same  unchanging  Lord  to-day." 

"But  I  tell  you,  madam,  its  mighty,  mighty  hard." 

In  all  this  conversation  she  closely  watched  the  officers, 
and  often  raised  her  handkerchief  to  her  face  while  talking 
with  me,  as  if  to  check  the  sound  of  her  already  stifled 
voice.  How  widely  dilTerent  were  our  positions,  compared 
with  six  years  before,  when  going  down  this  river  on  an 
errand  for  a  white  fugitive  from  slavery.  Then  my  thoughts 
could  find  no  })lace  even  in  a  whisper,  and  slave-holders 
were  cursing  and  threatening  abolitionists.  What  a  turn- 
ing of  tables!  Now  I  could  say  all  that  was  in  my  heart 
on  the  sin  of  slavery,  and  the  slave-holder  was  now  hushed. 
The  coal-barge  "  L.  S.  Havllaud,"  that  I  saw  on  my  other 
trip  tied  up  a  little  way  above  INIemphis,  was  not  now  to 
be  seen.  I  had  not  yet  learned  the  fate  of  those  Tennes- 
gee  slave-holders  who  had  so  often  threatened  my  life,  and 
a  number  of  my  fVieuds  had  advised  me  to  keep  a  proper 


JACKSON    HOSPITAL. 


257 


distance  from  tliom,  ns  this  nii<,'ht  be  the  time  for  their 
()j)|)ortiniity.  When  I  h^f't  my  home  I  hiul  n«»  ideu  of  go- 
ing as  fiir  as  Tenni'ssee,  or  my  chilihvn  and  friends  would 
have  feared  for  my  safety;  but,  as  for  myself,  I  knew  no 
fear. 
0  In  AbMnphis  I  found  many  lu)spitals  fdlcd  with  sick, 

wounded,  and  dying  sohliers ;  and  in  better  eondition  than 
I  had  anticipated,  excei)t  the  Jacksnn  Hospital,  which  was 
one  of  the  largest  in  the  city.  I  asked  jn'miission  of  the 
guards  to  enter,  but  was  informed  their  orders  were  very 
strict  to  allow  no  one  to  go  in  without  permission. 

"Very  well,"  sai<l  I,  "please  inform  me  where  I  can 
find  the  elerk,  and  I  will  secure  a  permit." 

The  surgeon  in  charge  was  just  passing  out  of  tlie  nniin 
entrance,  and  the  guard  introduced  me.  I  informed  him 
of  my  wish  to  visit  his  hospital.  In  a  very  surly  nianner 
lie  iiKjuired : 

"Have  you  a  son  here?" 

"  I  have  not,"  I  answered. 

"Then  what  do  you  want  to  go  in  lierc  for?  It  is  no 
place  for  a  lady  to  step  her  foot  over  the  threshold  of  a 
hospital." 

"  I  perceive  you  and  I  differ  widely  in  that ;  but  if  you 
doubt  my  fitness  to  visit  your  patients,  you  can  examine 
my  papers  from  the  governor  of  my  State  and  a  mend)er 
of  Congress  and  others." 

"  If  you  have  no  son  here,  I  do  n't  see  that  you  have 
any  business  here." 

"  Every  soldier  is  some  mother's  son,  and  I  wish  to 
visit  them,  and  here  are  my  pajwrs;  you  can  read  them 
if  you  wish." 

Throwing  out  his  hand  angrily,  he  said : 

"  Go  along,  then  ;  go  along." 

I  went,  but  he  took  good  care  to  bear  me  comjwny. 

As  we  entered  each  ward,  every  soldier  who  was  able 
to  bear  his  weight  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  stood  by  his  cot 

22 


I 


V  :0 


t! 


alt  ■• 


i! 


I 


258 


A    WO.NfAN's    MFK-WOFIK. 


■  i 


II 


it  ': 

ill* 


f  ■ 


*'l- 


1 


Ml 


during'  our  slay  in  the  ward.  I  saw  at  once  that  it  was  in 
|)ursuutic(!  oi*  an  order.  I  had  nui(U>  it  a  point  to  niiakc 
liands  with  every  soldier  tliat  was  awake  and  (!(tnscious; 
hut  tlie  surgtion  hurried  throned;  without  K'^''"K  '^"  oi)por- 
tunity  to  speak  to  a  half-(h>/,en  in  the  whok>  hospitah  One 
|)oor  skek'ton  of  a  man  sat  l)olstered  on  his  cot,  eating  his 
dinner,  and  had  on  his  phite  a  spoonful  of  eooked  onion. 

•*  Where  did  you  ^'et  that  onion?"  cried  the  surgeon. 

"1  paid  my  own  money  for  it,  doctor." 

**  Who  said  you  might  have  it?" 

"Dr.  S].ears." 

"  Very  well,  then  ;"  and  passed  on. 

Ileri!  my  disgust  fille<l  up  t«>  the  hrini.  I  cared  but 
little  <or  his  attempt  to  hrowheat  me;  hut  when  he  treated 
a  helpless  soldier  liki;  this  I  ct)uld  hardly  keep  my  indig- 
nation from  hoiling  «)Ver.  The  lirrjt  words  spoken  to  mo 
after  entering  the  hosjjital  were: 

**JDo  you  want  to  go  into  the  kitchen?" 

"  I  woidd  like  t(»  pass  through  your  kitchen,"  was  my 
reply. 

"Very  unfiivorable  time,  madam — very  unfavorahle; 
about  (hmier-time." 

Very  fiivorable,  thought  I,  and  went  in.  I  couhl  seo 
at  a  glance  that  the  large  caldron  of  jxjtatoes  was  boiled 
half  an  hour  too  long.  Their  bread  looke<l  well,  and  I 
suppose  it  was  good.  As  we  })assed  out,  taking  memo- 
randa and  pencil,  I  said: 

"  You  have  a  very  large  hospital.  How  many  will  it 
accommodate?" 

"  Fifteen  hundred,  madam.  Very  few,  very  few  at 
j)resent,  only  four  hundred  and  eighty-four." 

"  IIow  many  nurses  have  you?" 

"  Twenty-three." 

"  No  female  nurses?" 

"  No,  madam.  As  I  told  you,  a  woman  has  no  busi- 
ness to  ste})  inside  of  a  hospital." 


SriMJKON   POWKRS. 


259 


"As  1  tdld  you,  we  evidently  (lilKr  in  thfit  respect. 
Where  I  have  luiiiid  jiidieioiis  I'emule  nurs<'.s  it  seeni!*  niuro 
home-like,  and  our  sulditrs  feel  nion;  contented." 

"  Very  tew,  very  few  judicious  female  nurses." 

"They  exist,  notwithstanding.  How  many  surgeuna 
have  you  ?" 

"  Only  four  at  present." 

"You  arc  the  wurgeon  in  charges  jjleaso  give  nic  your 
name." 

"  ^ly  luimo  is  Surgeon  l\)wers,  of  the  >Sevt;nth  Mis- 
souri llegiment." 

His  name  and  figures  wen*  too  jilniidy  recorded  to  ho 
ofra<'ed.  Here  ho  turnccl  a  jM-rlcct  somersault,  if  w<inls 
could  jH'rform  the  feat.  With  an  aflecti'd  i)oIiteness,  how- 
ing  himself  almost  douhle: 

"Madam,  I  hope  you  will  call  airiiin  some  time;  call 
in  the  middle  of  the  forenoon  or  afternoon — very  unfavor- 
uhle  ahout  m(*al-tini(\" 

"  If  I  remain  a  week  or  ten  day.s  longer  in  the  city,"  I 
rejdied,  "  I  shall  do  so." 

"  I  wotdd  Ik;  very  ha])j>y  to  havt>  you  call  again, 
madam ;  very  happy  to  see  you  again." 

I  left  with  a  heavy  heart,  and  called  at  the  .sanitary 
rooms  to  ascertain  the  location  of  five  unvisited  hosjiitals. 
I  found  the  room  filled  with  officers  and  a  few  generals  of 
high  raidv.  I  introduced  myself,  as  usual,  by  handing  Dr. 
AVarrener,  sanitary  agent,  my  papers. 

"Then  you  are  visiting  the  ho.spitals,  with  supplies, 
etc.,  are  you?  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  as  we  have  had  no 
visitor  from  so  far  North.     How  do  y<ni  find  them?" 

"  I  have  found  them,"  I  answ(>red,  "more  satisfactorily 
conducted  than  I  anticipated,  with  hut  one  exception." 

"Have  you  visited  the  Jackson?" 

"  I  have  just  come  from  there." 

"To-day  is  not  the  visiting  day.  Did  you  see  Surgeon 
Powers?" 


; 


;j 


fi 

M,  -                         jl 

'^\ 

,ji 

i 

. 

1"-                ' 

1 

I   :t 


>  ,    \ 


M 


Hm4  H 


200 


A    WOMAN'S    LIFE-WORK. 


"  I  dkl." 

"Did  you  get  into  tliat  hospiUil  without  trouble?" 

"  Wo  luid  u  inirley." 

"  Wliat  did  lie  say  to  you?" 

I  gave  his  olycction  and  my  reply  in  a  low  tone.  To 
my  annoyance,  the  doctor  repeated  it  in  a  loud  voice,  and 
continued: 


tluit 
tiiink 


You  certainly  could  have  given  no  bettc 


everv  soldier  is  some   nu 


)thcr 


s  sou. 


I'ason 
What 


lo 


f  S 


urgeon  Powers 


th 

y 


au 

ou 


1  hesitated  in  view  of  all  these  officers;  but  my  second 
thought  was,  no  matter  whether  the  President  hinisell'  were 
present;  and  I  frankly  replied: 

"1  think  he  is  a  tMant  brandy-cask.  Why  do  you 
allow  su<h  a  man  to  occupy  the  responsible  jjosition  of 
iHirgeon  in  charge  of  hundreds  of  the  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers?'' 

"  We  tried  once  to  get  him  out,  and  failed.  You  ought 
to  see  the  medical  director,  wh.o  is  in  the  city." 

He  gave  me  tin;  location  of  the  hospitals  1  desired,  and 
I  left.  Ivememhering  the  promise  I  made  my  son  Joseph, 
I  returned  to  head -quarters,  and  spent  the  balauce  of  the 
day  in  writing  for  .soldiers  and  for  myself. 

The  following  nu)rning  I  resumed  hospital  visiting.  On 
the  street  I  met  an  officer,  who  reached  his  hand  with  a 
smile,  saying,  "  You  do  not  recognize  me,  but  I  recognize 
you  as  being  the  lady  in  Dr.  Warr«^ncr'8  office  yesterday, 
after  visiting  the  Jackson  Hospital." 

"  I  do  not  know  but  you  thought  me  severe  in  my  re- 
marks concerning  Surgeon  Powers." 

"  Not  at  all — not  by  any  means,  for  I  had  two  sons 
under  him  six  weeks,  and  they  both  declared  they  would 
rather  die  in  the  opn  field  than  be  under  the  care  of 
that  drnnk<'n  tyrant  again." 

"  Why  <lo  you  permit  such  a  surgeon  to  have  the  care 
of  the  sic).,  W(>und«'d,  and  dying  soldiers?" 


THE    MKDirAL    DIRECTOR. 


261 


'*  Well,  it  is  difficult  for  us  to  do  much  with  each  other, 
but  there  is  the  medical  director  just  ahead  of  us ;  you 
ought  to  see  him ;  I  '11  introduce  you.  He  is  very  nuich 
of  a  gentleman." 

The  first  cjuery  of  the  medical  director,  after  reading 
my  papers,  was  '*  Have  you  visited  the  Jackson  Hospital? 
And  did  you  see  Surgeon  Powers?" 

"I  undertook  to  visit  it  yesterday,"  I  said,  "but  was 
hurried  through  in  such  hasto,  by  Surgeon  Powers,  tliat  I 
could  not  speak  to  any  of  the  soldiers,  or  stop  to  write  for 
them  to  their  lu)me  friends,  if  th.ey  desired." 

"  What  do  you  think  of  Surgeon  Powers?" 

*'  I  think  he  is  an  unfeeling  tynint.  The  white  of  his 
eyes  had  the  color  of  red  flanni'l,  and  the  unmistakablo 
brandy  breath  made  standing  near  him  very  un})l('asant. 
liesides,  his  ungentleinanly,  morose  treatment  of  helpless 
soldiers  indicates  his  entire  unfitness  for  the  position  he, 
occupies.  If  the  milk  of  human  kin<liM\«s  is  more  loudly 
callt'd  for  iji  one  position  than  another,  it  is  in  the  siirgecai 
in  charge  t»f  sick,  wounded,  and  dying  soldiers." 

"  We  know,  Mrs.  Havlhuid,  this  is  true,  and  we  made 
an  effort  to  displace  hiui  once  and  failed,  because  tiic  med- 
ical director  over  the  whole  of  us  in  this  division,  next  in 
rank  to  Grant  himself,  is  determined  to  hold  him  here. 
But  if  you  will  make  out  your  report,  with  tiu^  recom- 
mendations from  your  governor  and  Congressman  backing 
it,  we  can  make  that  etticient.  You  may  make  your  re- 
port as  strong  as  you  please." 

I  left  him  with  cordial  thanks,  and  soon  the  repor*  was 
handed  him.  I  visited  all  tlie  hospitals  in  that  post,  and 
on  my  second  visit  to  the  Jackson  fotuid  Surgeon  Pow(  rs 
fdled  to  overflowing  with  affected  politeness;  but  it  did 
not  brighten  the  bleared  eye,  or  straighten  the  zij.jzag  gait 
of  the  surgeon. 

A  few  weeks  after  I  met  a  M'-mphis  officer,  who  in- 
formed me  that  Surgeon   I'owers  was  relieved  i»f  hospital 


w 


202 


A  woman's  life-work. 


!    !'■ 


^work  altogether  very  soon  after  I  left  the  city.  A  few 
mouths  later  lie  filled  a  druukard's  grave. 

In  one  hospital  in  Memphis  1  found  in  one  corner  a 
female  soldier,  Charlie.  She  was  in  both  Bull  liun  battles, 
and  four  others  slie  named ;  besides,  she  had  endured  long 
marches.  Here  she  was  taken  violently  ill  with  typhoid 
fever,  and  for  the  first  time  her  sex  became  known.  She 
was  large  and  rather  coarse-featured,  and  of  indomitable 
will.  She  said  the  cause  of  her  enlistment  did  not  now 
exist,  and  she  wanted  to  go  home  as  soon  as  able.  She 
intimated  that  her  betrotluid  had  recently  died,  and  she 
had  no  desire  to  remain  in  the  army. 

While  in  ]\I(;ni])his  a  telegram  came  from  President 
Lincoln  ordering  four  hundred  colored  mem  to  be  enlisted, 
and  no  more,  until  furtlicr  orders.  Colonel  Eaton  took 
this  work  for  his  breakfast  spell.  As  he  came  in  rather 
late  for  his  morning  meui  he  said,  "  I  have  enlisted  the  re- 
quired number,  and  quite  a  company  went  away  crying 
because  tliey  could  not  enlist.  I  comforted  them  l)y  telling 
them  that  I  presumed  there  would  be  anotluir  call  soon." 
I  had  built  a  bed  for  myself  in  (»ne  corner  of  the  commis- 
sary building,  nnd  a.s  we  were  occupying  the  weakest  point 
at  the  post,  we  were  ordered  to  have  no  light  in  our  tents, 
but  before  dark  to  have  every  needed  article  at  our  bedside, 
ready  at  a  moment's  warning  to  ho,  conducted  to  Fort  Pick- 
ering. Soldiers  were  kept  in  readiness  for  action,  as  the 
enemy  was  threatening  to  retake  jSfemphis.  At  two  o'clock 
A.  M.  the  loud  cry,  "Halt!"  at  the  corner  where  I  was 
sleeping,  aroused  me.  This  was  quickly  followed  by  a  stiU 
louder  "  Halt!  May  be  you  don't  know  who  I  is;  I  holds 
a  gun,  an'  her  's  off." 

"  Well — well,  I  only  want  to  come  to  you;  I  don't  want 
to  go  fiirther."  Tlie  officer  approached,  saying,  "That  is 
right ;  if  I  had  taken  one  step  after  you  cried  halt  the  third 
time,  you  should  have  .shot  me  through,  uo  mutter  who  I 
am,  if  it  was  the  President  himself."  ♦ 


A   SICK    SOLDI  KU. 


263 


>J,' 


■as 
ill 
els 


At  the  broakfsust  table  Colonel  Euton  remarked:  "A 
iHiinher  of  our  new  colored  soldiers  were  put  on  picki^t 
guard  hifst  iiii^ht  on  trial,  and  not  one  sle(>j)y  hea<l  was 
fouud  ainon;^  tlienu  Since  we  accept  these  men  as  soldiers 
I  am  confident  it  will  do  away  the  necessity  of  drafting 
men,  as  some,  thiidc  must  soon  be  done." 
f%j  I  spent  a  few  days  in  visitinj;  hosj>itals,  often  readiniij 
portions  of  S('ri])ture,  and  kneelin;^  by  tlH>  cot  of  the  suf- 
fering and  <lying  soldiers,  imploring  the  (Jri^at  Physician  to 
heal  the  sin-sick  soul.  I'or  some  I  wrote  letters  to  their 
home  friends,  which  I  found  was  often  very  gratifying  to  j)oor 
homesick  boys.  One  very  sick  with  jnieumonia  wished  mo 
to  write  to  his  folks  in  Kent  County,  Michigan,  that  he 
wjis  in  the  ho.fpital  from  a  little  cold,  but  would  .«onn  be 
able  to  join  his  regiment  again.  I  dared  not  write  accord- 
ing to  his  directions,  and  told  him  1  would  fniish  his  letter 
at  head-({uarters.  When  he  asked  my  name,  ln'  wanted  to 
know  if  I  was  a  relative  of  Rev.  D.  S.  Ilaviland,  in  Kent 
County,  Michigan.  When  I  told  him  he  was  ni}'  son,  ho 
held  my  hand  in  both  of  his  and  burst  into  a  floo<l  of  tears, 
and  said  he  had  heard  him  j)reach  many  titn(>s,  and  thought 
he  was  such  a  good  man.  I  saw  his  feelings  were  deeply 
allected,  and  I  feared  it  W(nild  increase  the  fever,  and  J 
promised  to  come  and  see  him  again  in  a  day  or  two.  I 
sat  by  him  ^\'*h  my  liand  upon  his  head  and  consoled  him 
as  best  I  coidd.  When  he  became  calm  I  left,  and  called 
on  his  phvsician  for  his  opinion  eoncerning  him.  He  said 
he  was  still  in  a  critical  condition,  but  thought  the  dis(\'\so 
was  turning  in  his  favor,  and  advised  me  not  to  write  to 
his  friends  until  two  days  more  had  pas.'^ed,  as  he  woidd 
then  be  able  to  judge  better  of  his  case.  Two  <lays  later 
I  called  again  and  found  him  much  better,  but  the  dcM'tor 
thought  the  excitement  of  my  leaving  him  increased  tho 
fever  during  the  afternoon.  He  was  now  a  litth^  stronger, 
and  he  said  I  had  better  not  let  him  know  that  I  designed 
leavimr  the  citv.     I  fniished  the  letter  with  irnaler  encour- 


''•'Hi 


264 


A  woman's  life-work. 


I,     .i: 


.1! 


agement  than  I  could  have  done  conscientiously  on  my 
first  visit. 

As  I  was  passing  out  one  of  the  convalescents  said, 
*'  Frank,  here  is  that  woman  you  wanted  to  see ;"  and  he 
came  on  a  run. 

"Are  you  from  Michigan?"  I  asked. 

*'  Not  quite,"  he  said ;  "  but  I've  been  in  Michigan.  I 
am  from  Ohio,  and  that  is  its  next  neighbor ;"  and  he 
seemed  a.«  glad  as  if  he  was  meeting  his  mother.  "O,  how 
mueh  you  remind  me  of  my  mother!  Your  advice  to  us 
boys  is  almost  in  the  same  words  my  mother  gave  me  when 
I  left  her ;"  and  tears  spoke  louder  than  words  of  his  ap- 
preciation of  visits  from  his  mother's  representative. 

I  visited  many  camps  of  the  freed  men,  whem  there 
were  two  thousand,  with  daily  additions.  Forty  came  into 
Bethel  Camp  one  afternoon.  I  went  among  them,  aud 
said  to  the  man  I  met  first: 

"  You  concluded  to  use  your  freedom  in  coming  into 
the  Union  camps?" 

**  Freedom  !"  looking  up  in  surprise. 

**  Yes;  you  know  President  Lincoln  has  proclaimed  all 
slaves  free." 

"Is  dat  so?" 

"  Certainly;  you  have  heard  about  it,  I  suppose." 

"No,  missus,  we  never  hear  nothing  like  it.  We 's 
starvin',  and  we  come  to  get  somfin'  to  eat.  Dat's  what 
we  c(mic  for.  Our  people  home  tell  us  Yankees  want 
niggers  to  kill ;  an'  da  boils  'em  up  in  great  caldrons  to 
eat,  'case  da  's  starvin'.  But  all  de  white  men  gone  into 
<le  army,  an'  lef  us  all  wid  missus ,  an'  da  locks  de  bacon 
up  for  de  sojers,  an'  gii)  us  little  han'ful  o'  meal  a  day,  an* 
we  's  got  weak  an'  trimbly.  An'  I  tolo  my  people  we  's 
gwine  to  die  anyhow,  an'  wc  'd  try  de  Yankees." 

They  were  all  so  surprised  at  the  idea  of  freedom  that 
they  could  hardly  credit  the  fac*  until  their  own  people 
confirmed  what  I  had  told  them.     Riitions  were  given  to 


ADDRESS  AT  CAMP. 


265 


e 


that  hungry  company  at  once.  I  told  them  this  did  not 
look  liko  killing  oil"  colored  people. 

"No,  missus,  dis  '|)oars  like  makiu'  alive,  instead  of 
killiu'.     God  bless  sich  people  as  desc,  if  dis  be  Yankees." 

A  couple  of  young  men  followed  me  frf)ni  tent  to  tent, 
as  I  was  reading  portions  of  Scripture,  and  advising  them 
how  to  live  in  their  new  relaticjn  as  a  free  people.  I  ad- 
vised them  to  live  soberly  and  honestly  in  the  sight  of  all 
men ;  tliat  our  Heavenly  Father  looks  upon  all  his  chil- 
dren alike,  and  that  our  Lord  and  Savior  died  upon  the 
cross  for  all  alike,  because  he  is  no  resj^ecter  of  persons. 
The  young  men  asked  to  be  excused  for  following  mc ; 
"for,"  they  said,  "Ave  never  heard  white  folks  talk  liko 
you  talks  in  our  life.  Da  never  tiilks  f)r  our  own  good; 
an'  dis  is  so  new  we  wants  to  ax  you  please  excuse  us." 

Our  head -quarters  were  most  of  the  time  at  Camp 
Bethel;  but  I  spent  a  portion  of  my  time  in  Camp  Shiloh, 
which  was  in  sight.  On  the  Sabbath  I  attended  a  very 
large  meeting  in  a  grove  of  j)ecans,  ouks,  and  magnolias. 
The  minister  was  a  colored  man  of  considerable  intelli- 
gence, coidd  read  (piite  well ;  and  perhaps  there  were 
nearly  or  quite  one  hundred  of  our  soldiers  in  attendance. 
I  spoke  to  one  man  near  the  stand  while  they  were  sing- 
ing, informing  him  that  I  would  like  to  make  a  few  re- 
marks if  their  minister  was  willing.  The  minister  said, 
before  dismissing  the  congregation,  he  woidd  give  liberty 
for  a  white  lady  j)resent  to  speak.  "  I  do  not  know  who 
she  is.  She  may  be  here  incjuiring  for  some  of  lier  people; 
but  we  can  tell  better  as  to  hw  object  when  W(^  hear  her;" 
and  he  invited  me  forward. 

I  saw  at  <mce  the  minister  took  nie  to  be  one  of  those 
Blave-holders  who  were  coming  into  tlieir  camp  almost  daily 
to  persuade  tiieir  slaves  back,  though  not  one  of  them  ever 
succeeded.  I  told  them  my  objc**  was  to  iiKjuire  after  the 
health  <»f  tljia  j>eoi>le,  body,  soul,  and  spirit — and  my  peo- 
ple were  all  who  accept  salvation  through  our  Lord  and 

U 


I  i'sfei:^ 


r 


I'.V  -li 


i 
'1- 


266 


i'>, 


A   WOMAN'S   LI FR- WORK. 


i:. 


!i., 


Savior  Jesus  Christ ;  that  our  Heavenly  Father  made  all 
the  nations  of  the  whole  earth  of  one  blood,  and  never  de- 
signed that  one  raeo  should  hohl  another  in  bondage.  I 
had  hardly  finished  my  (irst  sentence  before  the  niiuister 
and  those  near  him  were  urging  me  to  step  to  the  top 
of  their  platform,  as  I  had  only  taken  one  or  two  steps 
forward.  "Come  up  here;  our  people  all  Avant  to  see 
you,"  I  had  to  obey.  Ten  minutes'  talk  did  not  satisfy. 
The  minister  and  others  in  that  large  congregation  bade 
mo  go  on;  and  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  more  were  occupied. 

At  the  close  a  few  hundred  of  those  whose  fi'inilles  had 
been  broken  up  by  cruel  separations  came  to  v.c,  and  many 
tears  were  coursing  down  the  sable  checks  of  many  gath- 
ered around  me  to  shake  my  hands,  which  were  actuUy 
lame  and  swollen  for  three  days  after. 

Haid  the  disappointed  minister,  *'  It  'i)ears  like  an  angel 
dr(jpi)ed  down  'mongst  us,  iu  place  of  the  slave-missus 
come  for  her  ixjople." 

Said  one  woman:  "  ^Ty  ole  missus  come  las'  Avcck  to 
get  all  fifty-five  of  us  back  again,  and  she  tried  mighty 
hard  to  get  us  to  go  back  wid  her.  Den  she  went  to 
(u'ueral  Grant,  an'  he  say,  'If  your  j)eople  want  to  go 
back  they  may.'  Dm  sh((  try  us  again ;  but  not  orie 
would  go,  'case  we  ktiows  her  too  well — t<he  's  mighty  hard 
on  us.  Den  slio  went  back  ti>  the  general,  an'  iM'gged  an' 
cried,  ami  hel'  out  her  ban's,  and  say,  '  General,  dese  ban's 
never  was  in  dough — I  never  made  a  cake  o'  bread  in  my 
life;  ph'asc  let  mo  have  my  cook.*  An'  ^iie  tuck  on  so  I 
jus'  triml)le;  I 's  fcan^l  he'd  tell  me  to  go  wid  her.  But 
all  her  cry  in'  did  n't  help  her.  General  say,  '  I  can  't  help 
you,  madam  •  if  your  cook  wants  to  go  w  iil  you  she  can  ; 
but  she  is  free,  an'  can  do  as  she  likes  about  it.'  An'  she 
went  ofi'eryiu';  an'  we  could  jus'  kiss  do  groun'  General 
Grant  w:il];s  on  ever  since." 
^  Anmng  llie  most  affecting  scenes  were  meetings  of 
ineml)er8  of  fan)ilie8  k)ug  separated.     In  ^Missiug  out  of 


i 


MARRIAGE   AT   CAMP. 


267 


of 
of 


this  multitude  my  nttcMillou  uii.s  atti-actiMl  to  a  group  who 
were  siuging,  shaking  luinds,  shouting,  uiul  reciting  their 
atHictious  and  sore  trials  since  they  were  j)arted.  One 
womau  found  her  sister,  wlio  was  s<;ld  from  her  iifteeu 
years  before.  Ihcy  had  not  heard  from  each  other  till 
just  here  they  met.  "()  sis'  Susie,  you  know  my  two  nice 
boys  was  sole  from  me  two  year  afore  I  was  sole  off  dat 
j)lantation  down  d(i  river,  an'  it  'jjcared  like  my  heart  was 
broke ;  an'  missus  l,:id  me  hit  fifty  lashes  'case  I  cried  so 
much.  An'  de  Lo'd  has  been  my  sun  an  shiel'  all  di.s 
time.  An'  hero  I  f»un'  my  two  boys;  da's  heap  bigger, 
but  da's  my  own  dear  boys.  I 's  prayed  long  for  frecilom, 
an'  God  did  come  down  and  make  us  free.  Glory,  gloky 
be  to  his  name!"  And  they  embraced  eacfx  other  in  wild 
excitement  during  some  minutes.  Then  they  went  to 
another  part  of  the  camp  to  meet  some  of  their  friends 
Susie  told  her  of. 

I  hastened  back  to  Camp  Bethel,  to  witness  the  mar- 
riage of  twenty  cou])les  that  Colonel  Eaton,  who  was  a 
chai)lain  among  tiiem,  was  to  marry  willi  one  ceremony. 
Many  of  the  men  were  of  the  newly-enlisted  soldiers,  and 
the  officers  thought  they  had  Ixitter  be  legally  married, 
although  many  of  them  had  been  nuirried  a  nund)er  of 
years,  but  only  according  to  slave  law,  wiiich  recognized 
no  legal  marriage  among  slaves.  At  the  a])pointed  hour 
the  twenty  couples  stood  in  a  row,  each  couple  with  right 
hands  clasped  ;  and  among  them  one  young  couple,  that 
being  tiieir  first  marriage.  All  gave  affirmative  answers 
at  the  same  time ;  first  the  men,  tiien  the  women.  Af^er 
the  ceremony  Chaplain  Eaton  offered  an  earnest  prayer, 
all  kneeling.  Then  he  shook  hands  with  them  to  signify 
his  congratulations,  and  I  followed  him  in  like  manner. 
It  was  a  novel  scene,  and  yet  solemn. 

On  the  morning  I  was  to  leave  Memphis  I  saw  an  old 
woman  wringing  the  bottom  of  her  cotton  dress  a  few  rods 
from  the  door.     I  inquired   how  her  dress  came  so  wet 


i; 


WT^i 


I  i.j!<i 


268 


A  woman's  LIFK-WOUK. 


^'  If 


r  ! 


I: 


i  ' 


1 1 


f 


half  a  yard  deep.  '*  I  como  up  in  a  leaky  skifT  las'  night 
wid  six  l»<)}.s  dat  do  oher.scer  whip  d«!  Yaidceo  out,  ho  say; 
an'  da  say  da  go  to  Yankees  now  any  how,  an*  I  hogged 
'em  to  let  mc  conic,  for  da  knows  I  has  sieh  hi!.rd  tinus. 
But  da  say,  *  Aunt  Peggy,  do  skilf  leak  so  had.*  But  I 
tolc  'em  I 's  comin'  wid  a  hasin,  an'  I  reekon  I  dip  fas* 
enough  to  keep  us  'hove  water.  An'  da  let  mo  eome,  an' 
it  tuek  all  night  to  come  seven  miles  up  do  river.  Dar 
was  forty  of  us  on  dis  plantation.  Massa  is  a  hig  man  in 
Seresh  army,  an'  sent  more 'n  a  hundred  of  our  jx'oplo 
'way  olf  to  do  hig  j)lantati()n :  an',  missus,  da  all  wants  to 
come  mighty  had,  an'  Ixgged  us  to  go  see  do  hig  man 
right  soon,  an"  tell  him  da  wauls  to  <lo  any  thing  he  wants 
'em  to  do,  if  he  will  only  let  'em  eome.  For  missus  is 
mighty  rich,  an'  don't  need  us,  'ease  she's  got  harrels  of 
meal,  an'  flour,  an'  plenty  haeon  in  do  smoke-house,  da 
keeps  locked  up,  da  say  for  de  Beeesh  sojers.  ,An'  nussus 
had  us  put  a  tin  trunk  of  gole  an'  silver  money,  an'  a  hig 
ches'  of  all  her  silver  j)late  way  up  in  de  lof  few  days  ago. 
Missus,  do  i)lease  go  tell  do  hig  man  how  da  all  hegged  us 
so  hard  to  ax  him,  soon  as  wo  gut  here,  if  ho  '11  let  'em 
come." 

I  told  her  I  would  sec  the  colonel,  and  inquired  for  the 
l)oys  who  came  with  her.  Sho  j) minted  to  the  six  young 
men  standing  outside  our  door.  I  approached  the  young 
men,  who  were  hetween  twenty  and  thirty  years  of  age, 
and  shook  hands  with  them,  saying,  "  It  seems  your  over- 
seer did  n't  succeed  iu  whipping  the  Yankee  out  of  you 
night  heforc  last." 

"No,  indeed,"  said  one;  "he  drove  in  the  Yankee 
deeper  every  lick  ;"  and  another  said,  "  I  reckon  he'll  find 
out  this  mornin'  how  much  Yankee  he  whipped  out." 

I  informed  Colonel  Eaton  of  his  new  comers ;  and  of 
the  earnest  appeal  of  the  (»ld  woman  in  Iwdialf  of  the  re- 
maining thirty-three,  and  how  she  hacked  her  pleading, 
Avith  enumerating  the  abundance  uf  every  thiug  her  mis- 


I'. 


TRANSPORTATION   KKri^RED. 


2fi9 


tress  pos"5cssS(Hl.  IIo  said  lio  would  sec  General  Veiich,  and 
he  might  concliKlo  to  send  a  guu-hoat  fur  tluin. 
^  On  ^^ay  17,  18G3,  I  called  at  I>r.  Warrenei's  ofRce  tm 
luy  way  to  G(;n(>ral  Veach's  office  for  transportation  to 
Cairo,  l)iit  designed  calling  at  Island  Xo.  10  and  Colum- 
bus, Kentucky.  The  doctor  kindly  ollered  to  take  my 
papers  and  get  transportation  antl  pass  from  the  j)rov()st 
marshal  for  me,  and  allow  mo  to  rest  the  while.  I  was 
glad  to  accejjt  tlx;  favor;  hut  he  soon  returned,  rather  dis- 
couraged, and  said,  "  I  think  the  general  rather  cross  to- 
day, and  I  dt»n't  know  whether  you'll  get  transportation 
or  not.  After  n-ading  your  papers  he  asked  Avhere  you 
wens  aii<l  I  told  him  vou  looked  tired  and  were  resting  in 
my  olIi(»  .  iind  I  offered  to  do  this  errand  f  )r  her,  as  it 
would  save  her  a  mile  of  walk.  '  I  M  like  to  see  the  lady,' 
h(!  saitl,  as  he  handi'd  hack  your  pajxi-s;  and  you'll  have! 
to  go  and  see  him."  Hero  was  amither  narrow  place.  1 
took  my  papers  to  General  Vtach  in  haste,  as  there  was  a 
l)oat  which  I  Avas  anxious  to  take  going  up  the  river  that 
afternoon.  I  entered  his  office  and  handed  him  my  papers, 
telling  him  I  hoped  to  receive  the  favor  of  an  order  for  trans- 
portation to  Cairo,  with  the  i)rivilege  of  stopping  at  I.-land 
No.  10  and  Columbus.  He  neither  aski'd  me  a  (piestion  nor 
opened  my  papers,  but  threw  tluMu  to  his  clerk,  with  diret;- 
tions  to  give  the  order.  Then  he  sent  it  to  the  (piarter- 
niastcr  to  fill.  On  my  return  I  called  on  the  provost-mar- 
shal and  secured  my  pass.  Said  the  doctor,  "  What  did 
the  general  say?" 

"Nothing,"  I  answeit'd;  "he  oidy  looked  at  mo  when 
I  gave  him  my  pajK'rs,  and  ])assed  them  over  to  his  clerk 
to  make  the  order." 

**  I  think  he  might  just  as  well  have  sent  them  by  me; 
but  the  general  had  n't  seen  a  I'nion  woman  for  so  long, 
lie  just  wanted  to  take  a  look  at  one." 

I  was  soon  on  the  steamer  that  took  me  from  this  citv 
of  many  exciting  scenes.     Hero  I   learned   the  sequel  of 


! 

I 


A  'i  ■ 


:    ^  lUk 


270 


A  woman's  life-work. 


'  1  l«f 


1 1'-. 


0 

I"' 


t.  , 


)    ;    'I 


M'J      (I 


ll|l 


il 


ii 


I-    1    ^ 

i  ■•■■   « 

yi 

my  Tennessee  correspondents,  formerly  mentioned,  and  was 
kIiowii  the  house  where  tljey  luul  both  liiin  dead  men. 

I  found  on  the  island  many  waiting  for  the  remainder  of 
my  supplies.  The  nund)er  in  camp  had  now  re^iehed  about 
3,000.  I  also  si)enL  a  little  time  at  Fort  Pillow,  where  a 
company  of  ex-slaves,  thirty-seven  in  number,  had  just 
made  their  esea])0  from  their  old  home.  They  had  trav- 
eled all  niglit  to  get  to  our  lines.  They  took  two  mules 
and  two  earts  t(,  bring  their  bundles  and  little  folks.  ^Mcn, 
Women,  and  larger  children  walked  twenty-five  miles,  to 
get  to  Fort  Pillow.  "AVhat  time  did  you  start?"  I  asked 
one  of  the  tired  women.  "  Early  moonrise,"  was  the  re- 
ply. That  was  about  11  o'clock  P.  ]\[.,  and  they  had  mado 
all  2)ossil)le  si>eed  to  get  to  our  lines,  and  seemed  very  much 
pleased  to  get  clear  of  i)ursuers,  as  some  in  their  neighbor- 
hood had  been  shot  and  killed  in  their  attempt  to  come. 
The  officers  took  charge  of  the  mules  and  earts,  and  sent 
the  people  to  Island  No.  10.  Here  I  took  a  steamer  for 
Columbus. 

After  landing  I  saw  a  funeral  procession  of  colored  peo- 
ple, and  a  number  of  officers  and  soldiers.  I  joined  the 
procession,  and  learned  it  was  the  only  son  of  a  slave 
mother  who,  two  days  i)reviously,  had  left  their  planta- 
tion. He  had  heard  that  colored  men  were  accepted  as 
soldiers,  and  was  exceedingly  anxious  to  enlist.  When 
they  were  nearly  half  across  the  river  their  young  master 
reached  the  bank  and  bade  them  return  or  he'd  shoot 
them ;  bu4<  the  son  j)ulled  for  the  opposite  shore,  when  a 
ball  passed  through  his  rigi  t  arm,  breaking  the  bone  above 
the  elbow.  The  mother  took  the  oars  and  j)ulled  with  all 
her  might,  when  a  second  ball  entered  the  lungs  of  the 
son.  They  were  met  by  a  few  of  our  soldiers,  who  took 
him  from  the  skiff  to  the  hospital,  where  ho  received  the 
best  surgical  attendance,  but  without  avail.  Much  sym- 
pathy was  manifested  in  behalf  of  the  bereaved  mother, 
who  was  left  with  two  little  girls.     Bereavement  was  no 


TlIK   TAniJiS   TURNED. 


271 


new  trial  for  licr.  Ilor  Iiii.sImukI  had  Ik'oii  sold  from  lur  a 
few  yt'urs  bufore.  1  askod  lu-r  if  tlu'so  tliroc  chiidrt'ii  wtro 
all  her  liimily.  "  O,  no,  li(»in>y;  1  had  two  hi;;  hoyn  sold 
j lis' afore  the  war.  Dout  know  whar  they  went.  An' 
now  my  poor  hoy  i.s  .shot  (had  ity  tliat  youn;;  nia.«.>^a  I 
missed  with  my  own  Inty.  Tliey  wius  both  hai)i«'S  lo;,Mther. 
]Mi.ssus  made  me  miss  her  luihy,  an'  .«et  her  lillU;  girl  lo 
vateh  me,  for  fear  I  'd  ^ive  my  hahy  too  much,  no  mattiT 
how  hanl  he  criecK  INIany  times  I  wasn't  aUowed  to  tako 
him  up,  an*  now  that  .same  hoy  lia.s  killed  mine,"  and  sho 
l)iiried  her  face  in  her  faded  calico  apron  until  it  was  wet 
with  tears.  A  soldier  told  me  a  lar^e  com])any  of  them 
vere  only  waitinj^  |HTmi.><sion  from  their  commander  to  go 
to  that  plantation  and  strip  it.  lie  said  she  seemed  to  bo 
such  a  nice  woman;  that  they  all  felt  so  indignant  they 
hardly  knew  how  to  wait  for  ordi'rs. 
^  From  this  sad  scene,  walking  to  the  Soldier's  Home,  my 

attention  Avas  arrested  on  seeing  a  white  man  with  a  ball 
and  chain  attached  to  his  ankle,  with  brick  and  hl.s  ball 
in  the  wheelbarrow,  wheeling  toward  the  soldier's  camp, 
guarded  by  a  black  soldier.  As  I  stood  looking  at  tho 
black  soldier  walking  leisurely  beside  tho  whito  man  in 
irons,  an  ofhccr  accosted  me  with,  "Madam,  that  ^jrisoncr 
you  SCO  wheeling  brick  to  our  ciunp  is  a  strong  .secessionist, 
and  was  a  hard  master  over  a  large  j)lantation  with  nioro 
than  one  hundred  .slav(  s,  and  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and 
all  his  slaves  came  into  our  camp.  Tho  younger  men 
enlisted  as  soldiers,  and  that  man  made  an  attemi)t  to 
escape  and  wo  put  him  in  irons  and  .set  a  black  soldier, 
who  had  been  his  own  slave,  to  guard  him." 

"What  a  turning  of  tables!"  I  said. 

"Yes,  you  will  find  the  f?ame  turning  of  tables  within 
our  linos  all  over  the  South.*' 

At  the  door  of  a  tent  I  saw  a  large,  square  bhx'k  of 
iron,  weighing  sixty  or  eighty  pounds,  t<)  which  was  attached 
a  ring.     I  inquired  of  a  colored  man  what  it  was  for. 


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272 


A  woman's  life-work. 


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"  That  belonged  to  our  plantation,  and  when  master 
had  a  mind  to  punish  us  he  ordered  us  locked  to  that 
block,  and  from  one  to  a  dozen  of  us  sometimes  were  locked 
to  it  with  a  long  chain;  and  when  we  hoed  corn  we'd  hoe 
the  chain's  length,  then  the  one  next  the  block  had  it  to 
tote  the  length  of  the  chain,  and  so  on  till  we  did  our 
day's  work.  Since  we've  been  here  we've  seen  nine  of  our 
masters  chained  to  that  same  block  and  made  to  shovel 
sand  on  that  fortification  yonder.  There  were  forty  of  us 
that  belonged  to  our  plantation  standing  in  this  yard  look- 


ing on. 


"IIow  did  you  feel  to  witness  such  a  scene?" 

"O,  I  can't  tell  you,  madam;  but  I  cried  like  a  baby.'* 

"  Why  did  you  cry  ?'* 

"O,  to  think  Avhat  great  things  God  is  doing.  Man 
could  never,  never  do  it.  * 

"Did  the  others  feci  as  you  did?" 

*'  O  no,  some  laughed,  and  one  man  said,  *Ah  ha,  you 
sec  now  how  sweet  'tis  to  tote  the  old  block,  do  n't  you  ?' " 

"Did  he  say  that  in  his  hearing?" 

"O  no,  we  s  five  rods  ofi*." 

The^e  were  a  number  of  hcises  burned  down.  May  28th, 
three  miles  beyond  our  lines.  Mrs.  Samantha  Plumer  in- 
quired of  Curlie,  one  of  our  boys  of  the  home,  if  he  would 
take  us  to  that  biggest  house  burning  on  the  Moss  planta- 
tion. No  sooner  Avas  the  suggestion  made  than  Curlie  got 
his  ambulance  ready  for  us,  and  we  were  soon  in  front  of  the 
smoldering  mansion.  The  proprietor  was  raking  over  the 
debris  for  gold  and  silver  or  other  imperishable  treasure. 

Among  the  ashes  were  hand-cuffs,  chains,  shackles,  and 
other  slave-irons.  He  was  occupying  one  of  his  slave 
cabins,  as  the  long  row  was  vacated  by  seventy  of  his 
former  slaves.  He  was  said  to  be  one  of  the  wealthiest 
planters  in  Kentucky.  One  year  previous  to  the  war,  report 
said  ho  lost  seven  valuable  slaves,  and  one  from  each  of 
three  adjoining  plantiitions  escaped  at  the  same  time.  After 


!  ( 


AN   OUTRAGE   AVENGED. 


273 


a  consultation  over  their  loss  they  placed  the  blame  of 
their  escape  on  a  carpenter  from  Illinois,  who  had  been  a 
few  weeks  working  at  his  trade  in  their  midst.  To  bo 
avenged  on  the  poor  carpenter,  a  bi'nd  of  men  came  upon 
him  in  the  night,  took  him  out  of  bed,  gave  him  a  coat  of 
tar  and  feathers,  and  treated  him  to  a  ride  on  a  rail-horse. 
Then  they  furnished  him  with  soap  and  lard  with  which 
to  disrobe  himself,  and  charged  him  to  leave  the  Stato 
within  twelve  hours,  never  to  be  seen  there  again,  or  a 
calamity  far  exceeding  this  Avould  be  his  portion.  All  his 
assertions  that  he  knew  nothing  whatever  of  their  slaves 
were  of  no  avail.  He  left  the  State  as  requested,  but 
wrote  back  to  the  chief  leader.  Moss,  that  if  an  opportunity 
ever  presented  he  would  be  avenged  on  those  who  had 
heaped  upon  him  these  abuses.  Mr.  Moss  said  he  saw 
that  same  carpenter  a  few  days  previous  to  the  house- 
burning,  with  three  other  men,  in  soldier's  dress,  but  ho 
did  not  believe  he  was  a  soldier,  but  only  in  borrowed 
clothes,  as  he  did  not  think  a  Union  soldier  would  do  so 
mean  a  thing.  An  officer  remarked,  however,  that  he  was 
a  hard  master  and  a  firm  secessionist,  but  was  now  very 
tame.  On  our  way  back  Curlie  informed  us  that  he  had 
taken  us  three  miles  beyond  our  lines,  and  we  were  very 
near  being  caught  just  opposite  the  line  at  the  firing  of  tho 
sundown  gun.  But  with  Curlie's  earnest  pleading  tho 
guards  consented  to  allow  us  to  cross  the  line. 

In  one  cabin  there  were  two  quite  intelligent  mulatto 
Avomen,  better  clad  than  any  I  had  met  in  the  oamp,  one 
of  whom  was  the  mother  of  three  fine-looking  children.  I 
remarked  to  one  of  them  that  they  had  a  better  chance  for 
life  than  others  I  had  seen,  and  inquired  how  long  they 
had  been  within  our  lines. 

One  of  them  answered,  "Only  ten  days.  Thar  was 
thirty-three  when  we  left  our  plantation  seven  miles  below 
Memphis,  'bout  three  weeks  ago,  but  some  of  our  people 
stopped  at  Memphis  when  we  came  up  the  river,** 


i'il'      ' 

|4| 


paBP 


r 


274 


A  woman's  life-work. 


'  :;5i,-,  I 


hii" 


\]i 


!  i,: 


■i:'; 


As  I  was  interested  in  her  recital,  slic  became  more 
excited  in  giving  details,  and  said: 

**  Mistess  got  mighty  feared  of  black  smoke,  an'  watched 
boats  mighty  close.  One  day  as  she  was  scttin'  on  the 
sofa  she  say,  'Mill,  I  reckon  thar's  a  gunboat  comin';  see 
de  black  smoke;  an'  if  they  do  come,  I  reckon  they  won't 
fin'  that  trunk  o'  money,  an*  dies'  of  silver  plate  you  put 
up  in  the  lof  t'other  day.'  Lookin'  out  for  the  boat,  'Yes 
tluit  's  a  gunboat  sure.  Now,  if  the  Yankees  do  stop,  you 
all  run 'and  hide,  won't  you?'  I  looked  too,  but  didn't 
answer  till  I  see  the  big  ropo  flung  on  the  bank.  An' 
mistess  got  wild-like.  'Yes,  they  arc  stoppiu'.  Mill  an* 
Julo  run,  tell  all  the  niggers  in  the  quarters  to  run  to  the 
woods  an'  hide;  quick,  for  they  kills  niggers.  Mill,  why 
do  n't  you  go  ?'  I  said,  '  I  ain't  feared  the  Yankees.'  *Jule, 
you  run  and  tell  all  the  niggers  to  run  to  the  woods,  quick. 
Yes,  here  they  arc  coming,  right  up  to  the  house.  Now, 
^lill,  you  won't  go  with  them,  will  you  ?'  As  the  men  had 
started  for  the  house  I  felt  safe,  and  said,  *  I'll  go  if  I  have 
a  chance.'  'Jiile,  you  won't  go,  Avill  you?'  'I  slvxll  go 
if  Mill  goes.'  She  began  to  wring  her  hands  and  cry. 
*Now,  'member  I  brought  you  up.  You  won't  take  your 
children  away  from  me,  will  you,  Mill?'  'Mistess,  I  shall 
take  what  childcrn  I  've  got  Icf '.  *  If  they  fine  that  trunk 
o'  money  or  silver  plate  you'll  say  it's  your'n,  won't  you?' 
*  ^listess,  I  can 't  lie  over  that ;  you  bo't  that  silver  plate 
when  you  sole  my  three  children.'  *  Now,  Jule,  you  '11  say 
it 's  yourn,  won't  you  ?'  *  I  can 't  lie  over  that  either.'  An* 
she  was  cryin'  an'  Avringin'  her  ban's,  an'  weavin'  to  an'  fro 
as  she  set  thar.  *Yes,  here  they  come,  an'  they'll  rob  me 
of  every  thing.  Now,  'member  I  brought  you  up.'  Here 
come  in  four  sojers  with  swords  hangin'  to  their  sides,  an* 
never  looked  at  mistess,  but  said  to  me,  'Auntie,  you  want 
to  go  with  us?'  'Yes,  sir,'  I  said,  an'  thoy  look  to  Jule  an* 
say,  'You  want  to  go?'  'Yes,  sir.'  'Well,  you  can  all 
go;  an*  hurry,  for  we  shall  stay  but  a  little  while.*    An* 


! 


PROrERTY   CONFISCATED. 


275 


, 


Jule  jus'  flew  to  the  quarters,  au'  they  all  tied  up  beds  an' 
every  thing,  an'  tote  'em  down  to  the  gunboats  in  a  hurry. 
An'  two  sojers  went  up-stairs  an'  wa'n't  gone  but  a  few 
minutes,  an'  don't  you  think  here  they  come,  with  that  tin 
trunk  o'  money  an'  ches'  of  silver  plate,  an'  broke  'em  open 
an'  tuck  out  a  big  platter  an'  water-pitcher  an'  a  few  other 
pieces  an'  say,  SSce  here,  Tom,  haven't  we  foun'  a  prize  of 
solid  silver  for  gov'ment,'  an'  he  put  it  all  buck.  An'  another 
open  the  trunk,  *  0,  see  here,  Jim ;  see  what  a  mine  of  money 
we  foun'  for  General  Veach,'  as  he  tuck  up  a  han'ful  of  golc 
an'  silver  money  an'  sif  it  through  his  fingers,  droppiu'  in 
the  trunk,  sayin',  'Ain't  we  got  a  pile  o'  money  for  gov'- 
ment.' An'  he  hau'  it  over  to  a  sojer  to  tote  to  the  gunboat. 
An'  two  ov  'cm  went  down  cellar  an'  come  back  with  stone 
jars  of  butter,  an'  pczerves,  an'  opened  'cm.  '  Tom,  see  here, 
what  a  lot  of  goodies  we  got;  Avon't  we  live  well?'  An'  he 
cover'd  'era  up  agin  an'  .otcd  'em  to  the  gunboat.  Then 
they  broke  open  the  meal-room,  an'  rolled  out  barrels  of 
meal  and  flour,  saved  for  scccsh  sojers,  an'  rolled  'em  down 
to  the  gunboat.  An',  last  of  all,  they  went  to  the  smoke 
house,  an'  broke  it  open  an'  got  a  lot  of  bacon.  '  Now, 
auntie,  you  all  ready,'  they  say?  *Yes,  sir,'  I  tell  'em. 
'  Here's  a  roll  of  huscy  for  our  cloze,  shall  we  take  it?* 
'Certainly,  an'  any  thing  else  you'r  a  mine  to.'  As  we 
started  for  the  door  mistess  followed  us  cryiu'  an'  wringin' 
her  ban's.  'Now,  Mill  an'  Jule,  I  know  you'll  suffer  when 
you  leave  me.'  One  o'  the  sojers  turn  to  her  and  said, 
'They  won't  suffer  again  as  they  have  done  with  you.'  An' 
this  wf  the  firs'  words  she  spoke  after  they  come  in,  an' 
the  firs'  they  said  to  her.  An'  we  all  got  on  the  boat  in  a 
hurry;  an'  when  wc's  fairly  out  in  the  middle  of  the  river, 
we  all  give  three  times  three  cheers  for  the  gunboat  boys, 
and  three  times  three  cheers  for  big  Yankee  sojers,  au* 
three  times  three  cheers  for  gov'ment;  an'  I  tell  you  every 
one  of  us,  big  and  little,  cheered  loud  and  long  and  strong, 
an'  made  the  old  river  just  ring  ag'in." 


is  n  i  ■ 


li 


.\f 


nU  ti 


276 


A  avoman's  life-work. 


She  became  so  excited  slie  acted  the  part  of  her  mis- 
tress adinirahly  in  the  halt'-bcnt,  Avhiniug,  crying,  and 
wringing  of  hands,  as  she  followed  them  to  the  door. 

"  How  did  you  feel  about  that  silver  plate  that  was 
bought  with  the  jjrice  of  your  three  children?  Didn't  you 
think  you  ought  to  have  it?" 

* '  O  no,  I  could  n't  touch  it.  It  was  part  o'  my  poor 
dear  childern ;  but  I  did  n't  want  niistess  to  keep  it.  I 
was  glad  to  see  it  go  to  gov'ment." 

The  tears  coursed  down  her  care-worn  cheeks  as  she 
related  tiie  sale  of  her  three  older  children. 

"I  fell  upon  my  knees  afore  master  an'  mistess,  an' 
begged  'em  not  to  sell  my  poor  childern  down  the  river, 
whar  I  could  never  see  or  hear  from  'em  any  more.  But 
master  say  it 's  none  o'  my  business,  an'  I  should  stop  my 
uoise,  or  he  'd  have  me  punished.  An'  mistess  say  she 
won't  have  all  this  cryin'  round  her.  'Your  childern  be- 
longs to  us,  an'  you  know  it;  an'  it's  not  for  you  to  make 
all  this  fuss  over  it,  either.'  I  said,  'Mistess,  Avould  n't  you 
grieve  over  your  childern,  if  somebody  take  'em  from  you?' 
'  You  hush  your  sauce,  or  I  '11  have  you  punished.  That 's 
another  thing ;  my  childern  's  white.'  An'  then  they  had 
me  punisiied." 

Her  husband  was  sent,  with  many  others,  to  what  they 
called  the  "big  plantation,"  in  the  interior.  She  said  her 
master  was  a  "  big  man"  in  the  seeesh  army.  I  found 
they  called  all  officers  big  men.  After  she  finished  her 
story  I  told  her  I  saw  the  seven  she  said  went  to  Memphis,' 
a  few  days  before  they  left,  and  how  Aunt  Peggy  L/Cgged 
me  so  hard  to  tell  the  big  man  that  they  all  wanted  to 
come.  And  to  impress  me  with  the  idea  that  the  mistress 
could  do  without  slaves,  she  told  me  about  the  trunk  of 
money  and  chest  ot  silver  plate ;  but  I  had  no  more  idea 
of  its  being  confiscated  than  had  Aunt  Peggy  in  her  appeal. 

My  attention  from  this  episode  was  arrested  by  another 
scene  of  a  different  character,  but  truly  revolting — a  young 


POST  irosriTALs. 


277 


motlicr  of  only  fourteen  years,  with  a  vor}'  sick  infant, 
palo  and  emaciated  herself;  the  grandmother  of  a  very 
light  complexion,  and  tlie  great-grandmother  a  mulatto. 
All  these  four  generations  were  the  children  of  their  old 
master,  whose  hair  was  white  with  age.  He  was  the  father 
of  the  great -grandmother,  and  of  each  generation  to  the 
fourth,  and  master,  all  in  one.  As  revolting  as  this  fact 
was,  I  was  compelled  to  believe  it,  as  his  former  slaves  told 
mc  of  his  licentious  character  from  his  early  youth  to 
eighty  years.  Ho  was  never  married,  and  Avas  the  owner 
of  a  large  plantation,  and  his  many  slaves  sought  the  first 
opj)()rtunity  to  make  their  escape.  The  condition  of  these 
women  was  truly  appalling,  and  the  history  of  their  haso 
and  degraded  master  and  father  too  revolting  for  the  puhlic 
eye  or  ear!  I  turned  away  with  utter  disgust  at  thoJf  re- 
citals. The  child  soon  died,  and  I  thought  it  seemed  a 
pity  that  its  demented  mother  could  not  have  gone  with 
.it;  but  I  did  what  I  could  to  relieve  their  wants. 
iQ  The  hospitals  at  this  post  were  tolerably  well  cared 
for,  except  one  regimental  hospital,  where  were  a  nund)er 
of  sick  and  emaciated  soldiers,  who  had  no  pillows  but 
their  haversacks,  and  no  covering  but  their  overcoats,  and 
they  piteously  begged  for  milk.  I  went  to  their  surgeon, 
and  inquired  whether  boiled  milk  wouhl  not  be  allowed  for 
those  men  who  were  so  low  with  camp  diarrhea,  and 
whether  I  could  not  bring  them  quilts  and  i)illows. 
"Madam,  you  can  bring  them  milk,  or  any  thing  you've 
named ;  but  I  tell  you,  if  you  undertake  to  listen  to  all 
these  soldiers'  teasing,  you  '11  have  your  hands  full.  As 
like  as  not,  any  way,  they  '11  trade  whatever  you  give  them 
for  whisky  the  first  chance  they  have."  I  could  not  sleep 
until  I  secured  the  aid  of  two  soldiers  to  go  with  me  to 
carry  milk,  pillows,  and  quilts  for  those  sick  men.  Their 
tears  of  gratitude,  as  I  handed  each  his  bottle  of  milk,  and 
placed  a  pillow  under  their  heads,  and  a  quilt  for  those  who 
had  only  an  overcoat  for  a  covering,  paid  me  well.     I  re- 


I 


f  ^ '  4 


1  ^ 


M 


m 


.pi  ~. 


278 


A   woman's   LIFE-WOr.K. 


Mi* 


I  ill 


1     ' 


'i 


Mi 


U 


I 


m 


V) 


turned  to  the  Soldiers'  Home  quite  relieved,  but  wearied 
and  sick,  with  a  severe  cough,  that  had  followed  me  for 
more  than  a  mouth.  I  fouud  it  necessary  to  hasten  home 
to  rest. 

I  left  this  field  of  suffering  and  constant  excitement 
May  30th,  for  dear  home  and  anxious  children  and  friends. 
A  few  days'  rest  restored  health  and  strength,  but  we 
were  not  relieved  from  excitement.  Our  principal,  E.  A. 
Haight,  enlisted  soon  after  closing  the  Spring  term  of  our 
school.  Preparation  for  another  school-year  was  before  me, 
beside  the  necessity  of  calling  on  friends  in  various  places  for 
supplies.  I  was  informed  by  officers  that  I  could  now 
secure  j^asses  and  transportation  for  an  assistant  as  readily 
as  for  myself  alone.  INIy  school  vacation  was  fully  occu- 
l)ied  in  preparing  for  the  following  academic  year,  and  in 
looking  for  a  congenial  companion  to  share  with  me  in 
this  work, — one  who  was  willing  to  sacrifice  all  upon  our 
country's  altar. 


wmmmmm 


KETUltX   TO  THE  SOUTH. 


279 


Chapter  XI. 

SANITARY  WORK. 

We  found  a  necessity  for  organized  work,  and  formed 
a  Freed  men's  Ilelief  Association,  in  Detroit,  with  Captain 
E.  B.Ward,  president;  Kov.  William  Webb,  vice-president; 
Benjamin  C.  Durtee,  secretary ;  and  Francis  liaymond, 
treasurer.  These  did  what  they  could  in  gathering  su|> 
})lie8  in  that  city  for  me  to  take  South  the  coming  Autumn. 
Brother  Aldrich  was  engaged  to  act  as  principal  of  liiiisin 
Institute,  and  this  gave  me  leisure  to  hold  meetings  in 
towns  and  county  school-houses  for  soliciting  help  for  my 
Southern  work.  During  vacation  our  two  halls  were  made 
ready  for  opening  the  Academic  Year,  as  usual,  on  the  first 
Wednesday  in  September,  1863-4.  The  school,  though 
smaller  than  before  the  war,  opened  with  fair  prospects, 
and  I  felt  at  liberty  to  leave.  The  institution,  being  in 
competent  hands,  I  obtained  as  a  companion  in  labor  one 
of  the  most  devoted  of  Christian  woman,  my  dear  sister, 
Letitia  Backus,  of  Pittsford,  Michigan.  With  a  car-load  of 
supplies  we  left  our  homes  for  fields  of  greatest  suffering, 
where  least  help  was  found.  Well  furnished  with  docu- 
ments from  our  governor,  Austin  P.  Blair,  and  two 
members  of  Congress,  we  secured  passes  to  Chicago  and 
return,  tlieu  to  Cairo  and  return,  and  from  thence  to  Vieks- 
burg,  Mississippi.  Waiting  a  few  days  at  Cairo,  for  our 
supplies  to  reach  us,  we  visited  the  hospitals  and  camps. 
Here  we  met  a  company  of  men  who  were  called  "Jay- 
hawkers."  They  were  all  tall,  large  men.  One  of  these 
carried  the  treasure-bag,  but  I  do  not  think  he  was  a  Judas 
to  the  government.  A  pillow-case  was  nearly  half  full  of 
gold  and  silver  watches,  diamonds,  and  gold  jewelry,  which 


m 


t; 


e^pepr 


!  '  'A 


VI''''"H 


;  Ki- 
ll ^m 

It  i    if 


9'>  i 


H-U\  ; 


II    I 


280 


A  avoman's  lifj>wouk. 


they  said  was  confiscated  for  the  government.  They  said 
wealth  gave  the  rcbelliou  strength,  no  matter  iu  what  it 
consisted. 

After  the  arrival  of  our  supplies  we  took  a  steamer 
dowu  the  Mississip2)i,  and  stopped  a  short  time  at  Colum- 
bus. A  little  before  lauding  I  discovered  an  Irish  woman 
had  iu  her  possession  a  six-quart  tiu  pail  of  whisky,  and 
a  gallon  jug  that  she  seemed  very  careful  to  keep  out  of 
sight  under  the  sofa ;  I  took  a  seat  by  her  side,  and  knew 
I  could  not  be  mistaken  as  to  the  contents  of  her  jmil  and 
jug,  and  as  I  understood  it  was  a  forbidden  article,  I  pen- 
ciled on  the  margin  of  my  official  paper  to  the  inspector 
to  look  well  to  the  whisky  the  woman  at  my  side  had  in 
her  possession.  As  he  came  to  inquire  for  my  baggage  to 
insjjcct,  I  told  him  where  he  would  find  it,  and  lie  would 
see  by  my  papers  what  were  their  probable  contents. 
Taking  a  look  at  the  lady  by  my  side,  as  he  hauded  back 
my  papers  he  remarked,  "  I  think  1*11  not  take  the  trouble 
to  inspect  your  baggage,  as  I  see  you  are  all  right."  As 
we  were  going  ashore,  my  red-shawled  companion  carefully 
gathered  her  pail  and  jug  under  her  shawl  at  each  side  of 
her,  and  hurried  to  bury  herself  iu  tlia  crowd.  The  in- 
spector followed  closely,  and  as  he  took  hold  of  the  pail  to 
see  what  she  had  hanging  on  her  arm,  iu  her  effort  to  get 
away  from  him  it  fell  on  the  cabin  carpet.  As  the  cover 
came  off  we  had  quite  a  shower  of  whisky  about  our  feet. 
At  this  the  jug  was  seized  by  the  inspector,  amid  shouts  of 
•'  Good,  good,"  and  the  laughter  of  the  crowd,  with  mutter- 
ing and  swearing  by  the  Irish  woman.  She  hastened  out 
of  the  crowd,  leaving  her  pail  and  jug  behind  her. 

At  the  Soldiers'  Home  we  found  Samautha  Plummer 
and  her  excellent  assistant.  The  following  three  days  we 
spent  in  visiting  hospitals.  Hospital  No.  2  was  miserably 
cared  for.  The  matron  was  a  Southern  woman,  who  had 
lost  her  husband  in  the  Confederate  army,  but  she  pro- 
fessed to  be  a  Union  woman,  and  said  her  husband  would 


BADLY    KF.I'T    IIOSIMTAL. 


281 


m- 


nevor  have  gone  on  that  side  but  for  compulsion.  Our 
officer.H  «ccnic(l  to  pity  her  and  her  two  thiughtcrs,  and  gavo 
them  a  homo  in  the  hospital.  The  mother  lield  the  p(»si- 
tion  of  nurse,  hut  not  one  of  the  three  was  a  suitahle  per- 
son to  be  there.  The  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  did  not 
h)ok  as  if  their  beds  or  apparel  had  been  changed  in  two 
Aveeks.  The  floor  was  filthy,  and  the  scent  was  sufficient 
to  sicken  well  people.  From  the  a])i)earan('e  of  the  wash- 
boiler,  running  over  with  dried  ajiples  that  were  being 
boiled  without  care,  I  judged  every  thing  to  be  done  al'ter 
the  sjimc  style.  I  inquired  of  one  of  the  convalescents  in 
the  yard  when  their  supjicr  hour  was,  and  ijrojxised  to  re- 
turn to  sec  how  the  brethren  fared.  Sister  Backus  was 
rather  fearl'ul  I  might  make  matters  worse,  as  they  might 
suspect  we  had  an  object  in  revisiting  the  hospital  so  soon; 
but  we  were  on  hand  to  see  the  burned  and  sour  biscuits 
dealt  out  to  those  sick  and  wounded  soldiers,  with  the  half- 
stewed  apples,  and  a  choice  given  between  rancid  butter 
and  a  poor  quality  of  black  molasses.  I  hoped  to  see 
something  better  when  the  pail  with  a  sjjout  apiH'ared, 
out  of  which  wa.s  turned  a  substance  half  way  between  j)ud- 
ding  and  porridge.  I  asked  if  it  was  farina.  "  It's  corn 
meal  mush,"  and  mush  it  was,  running  all  through  what- 
ever was  on  the  plate.  I  passed  from  one  plate  to  another, 
tasting  the  biscuits  and  cutting  pieces  of  apple  to  see  if  I 
could  find  one  without  au  uncooked  center,  but  with  little 
success. 

In  going  around  I  came  to  half  a  d(v.en  of  the  boys 
trying  to  while  the  time  away  with  a  pack  of  cards.  Hav- 
ing an  armful  of  Testaments,  I  })roposed  to  make  an  exchange. 
This  was  readily  agi'eed  to,  as  each  of  them  had  left  his 
home  with  one,  but  had  lost  it  in  battle  or  storm.  I  gave 
them  advice  to  commit  at  least  one  verse  from  their  Testa- 
ments daily  while  in  the  army,  and  each  promised  to  do  so. 

All  this  time  of  investigating  their  supper  and  making 

this  bargain,  sister  Backus  was  busily  engaging  the  atten- 

24 


■\V 


if 


i    i 


Mi 


iH 


;,  i 


vkt  ^ 


f 


'i  I 


¥3   '; 


m 


w 

■It 
I' 


ml  V 


282 


A  woman'h  lifk-wouk, 


tion  of  the  matron.  I  loft  that  hospital  with  a  heavy 
heart,  and  spent  a  sleepless  night.  I  told  sister  Backus  [ 
iniiHt  remain  there  until  that  hospital  was  renovated.  I 
wanted  to  go  into  it  and  "  make  things  fly,"  right  and  left, 
if  there  was  no  other  way.  In  the  morning  I  found  tho 
mcdieal  director,  and  asked  if  he  had  visited  Hospital  No.  2 
recently.  He;  said  he  had  not,  but  thought  the  surgeon 
having  charge  of  that  hospital  a  very  clever  sort  of  a  man. 

"  1  think  there  is  not  a  single  officer  in  that  establish- 
m(!nt,"  said  I,  '•  that  is  at  all  suitable  to  be  there.  Per- 
h;ij)s  that  surgeon  is  too  clever.  I  tell  you  he  is  defective, 
or  he  would  not  allow  such  a  hospital  as  that  under  his 
charge.  But  I  find  I  am  ahead  of  myself.  You  may 
take  me  to  be  some  nervous  mother,  but  I  only  claim  to 
be  a  representative  of  common-sonso  Avomen.  Here  are 
pa|K!rs  from  the  governor  of  my  State,  and  from  two  mem- 
bers of  Congress." 

After  reading  them  he  said,  "I  will  take  up  that  hos- 
pital within  two  weeks,  I  think." 

"Two  weeks!"  I  exclaimed;  "many  of  those  soldiers 
will  die  before  that  time.  I  can  not  leave  them  for  two 
weeks." 

"Then  I  will  tell  you  what  I  will  do;  I  will  bring  tho 
sickest  ones  here  to  this  hosj)ital,  and  put  the  rest  ou  a 
boat  and  take  them  to  Mound  City,  to  the  United  States 
Hospital,  and  take  up  No.  2  within  three  days." 

"That  will  do,"  I  said;  "  I  am  satisfied  with  Mound 
City  Hospital,  and  with  this  one.  If  you  will  do  this  I 
will  go  on  to-day  with  our  supplies  for  Vicksburg,  ]\Iis- 
sissippi." 

"  Mrs.  Haviland,  it  shall  be  done  within  three  days," 
he  replied,  and  I  left  him  with  a  lighter  heart. 

We  went  on  our  way  with  a  number  of  officers  and 
soldiers  on  board.  As  we  were  on  the  boat  over  Sunday, 
I  asked  permission  of  the  captain  to  talk  to  the  soldiers. 
He  gave  me  leave,  saying  it  was  a  very  unsuitable  place 


"1 


OITEUITJ.A    ALARM. 


283 


)iin(l 
lis  I 
iMis- 

tys," 

and 
lay, 

liers. 

klace 


for  ladies  on  tlio  roar  deck,  over  cuttle,  slieep,  and  liofjfs, 
])ut  they  would  j)rcjuire  ji  pluee  iw  soon  as  j)(>!S.><il»U'.  Wliilo 
jM'cparation  was  lu'inj,'  made,  a  yomij^  man  who  had  been 
studying  for  the  mini.stry  of  the  Cinnln'rlaml  Proshyleriau 
Church,  j)roi)(jsod  to  the  captain  to  address  the  soldiers. 
As  lie  was  a  niini.ster  the  captain  came  and  informed  nio 
that  he  had  granted  his  request.  I  told  him  I  supj)osed 
we  could  attend.  "Certainly,  certainly,  if  you  like,  only 
us  I  told  you,  it  is  an  unpleasiint  place  for  ladies."  Un- 
l)leasant  as  it  was,  we  listened  to  a  long  sermon,  and  re- 
mained a  few  minutes  longer  to  give  the  hoys  a  mother's 
advice,  as  they  were  leaving  th(>ir  Northern  homes,  not  to 
allow  themselves  to  become  demoralized  by  the  numy  dan- 
gers and  hardships  they  would  have  to  endure. 

About  8  o'clock  the  boat  stopped  a  little  below  Napoleon, 
Arkansas,  to  wood.  As  it  was  very  dark,  our  torches  were 
lighted,  and  we  saw  a  light  advancing  so  fast  on  the  bank 
that  I  thought  it  must  be  borne  on  liorseback.  "No,  it's 
too  low,"  said  a  woman  standing  near  me.  But  it  went 
out  as  soon  as  it  came  to  the  landing,  and  our  light  was 
immediately  extinguished,  the  cable  was  drawn  back,  the 
men  leaped  aboard,  and  the  boat  was  wheeled  so  suddenly 
into  the  stream  that  there  was  great  danger  of  bursting 
the  boiler.  We  heard  many  incpiiries  as  to  what  was  the 
matter.  But  the  fact  ran  quickly  over  the  boat  that  there 
■were  guerrillas  after  us.  The  running  lantern  we  saw  was 
carried  by  an  old  white  man,  who  overheard  the  talk  of 
more  than  forty  men,  who  were  secreted  in  a  clump  of 
trees  and  bushes  near  the  landing.  They  had  plainied  to 
capture  the  first  steamer  that  stopped  to  wood  at  tliat 
j)lace,  to  take  all  on  the  boat  as  prisoners,  stri})  it  of  every- 
thing on  board,  and  let  it  float  down  the  river.  The  aid 
man  told  the  men  not  to  let  it  be  known,  if  we  were  cap- 
tured, that  ho  had  informed  them  of  this,  as  it  would  cost 
him  his  life.  Such  a  scene  of  excitement  I  never  wit- 
nessed; men,  as  well  as  women,   turned  i)ale,  and  their 


'  I.  .  >  ■ 


^ 


V:  ■  M 


^  i 

':''t 


\,u 


M 


fi. 


I 


■I' 


! 


i 


I 


if: 


! 


,t     'I 


"      1 


284 


A   WOMAN'S    LIFE-WORK. 


voices  trembled.  Yet  many  of  them  flew  to  their  card 
tables,  expecting  every  moment  to  be  shot  into,  and  trem- 
bling with  iear  so  as  hardly  to  be  able  to  hold  their  cards. 
The  captain  said  if  pouring  tar  into  the  furnace  would 
send  us  beyond  a  bayou  near  by  before  they  could  over- 
take us,  he  thought  we  should  escape.  After  passing  that 
point  our  colonel  came  to  me  and  asked  after  my  com- 
jjanion.  I  told  him  as  she  was  not  well  she  had  retired 
very  early,  and  I  thought  she  had  better  not  know  any 
thing  of  this  excitement  until  morning,  if  we  should  es- 
cape ;  if  not,  it  was  time  for  her  to  become  excited  when 
we  were  taken. 

"How  do  you  feel  in  such  an  hour  as  this?"  he 
asked. 

"The  God  of  Daniel  lives  at  this  hour,"  I  answered, 
"and  in  him  I  trust." 

"  I  see  you  take  it  coolly,"  he  replied,  and  looked  sur- 
prised. I  told  him  I  pitied  those  card-players,  for  it  was  a 
hard  play  for  them,  while  standing  face  to  face  with  dan- 
ger. "  You  see  it  is  an  cffljrt,"  he  replied,  "  to  keep  dan- 
ger out  of  mind  as  much  as  possible." 

"  But  see  their  pale  faces  and  trembling  hands.  O, 
what  a  poor  substitute  they  have  for  substantial  trust  in 
an  Almighty  Power!  You  see  that  gentleman  and  his 
wife  sitting  on  the  other  side  of  the  cabin.  They  are  calm 
and  perfectly  composed ;  they,  too,  have  their  pocket  Bible 
in  hand.  They  are  trusting  children  of  the  Most  High,  no 
doubt."  He  thoughtfidly  looked  over  that  crowded  cabin 
a  moment,  and  walked  away. 

Very  few  retired  before  12  o'clock,  and  those  men  and 
women  were  all  that  time  making  ar  effort  to  quiet  their 
nerves  at  their  card-table.  The  next  morning  our  colonel 
called  again  with  a  little  joke:  "You  meet  danger  so 
coolly,  I  think  we  had  better  take  you  with  us  to  Texas 
for  a  general." 

I  was  thankful  for  the  improvement  in  sister  Backus's 


no 
ibiii 

land 
Iieir 

bnel 
so 
[xas 

jus's 


0 


FREEDMEN   IX   BATTLE. 


285 


health  by  a  good  night's  rest,  and  that  we  had  escaped. 
Without  further  trouble  we  reached  Vicksburg,  but  learned 
that  the  loudest  cry  for  aid  was  in  Natchez,  and  we  has- 
tened there  with  our  supplies.  AVe  were  offered  a  home 
with  Lieutenant  Thirds  and  family,  who  had  been  invited 
to  occujiy  rooms  at  Judge  Bullock's.  The  judge  was  too 
strong  a  secessionist  to  take  the  iron-clad  oath  of  allegiance, 
though  solicited  by  his  wife;  for  she  feared  they  miglit 
lose  their  })r()pcrty  by  confiscation.  To  save  it,  he  very 
blandly  offered  his  parlor  and  best  rooms  in  his  largo 
three-story  brick  house,  where  we  found  very  comfortable 
quarters.  Through  Colonel  Young,  we  obtained  the  use 
of  a  good-sized  store  on  Main  Street  for  our  goods,  and 
the  surgeon  of  the  frecdmen's  camp  provided  for  us  a  small 
room  near  the  camp,  where  were  congregated  four  thou- 
sand freedmen  in  condemned  tents.  These  tents  were  so 
leaky  that,  from  exposure,  after  heavy  rains  and  wind,  we 
had  from  five  to  fifteen  deaths  in  a  day.  Here  we  found 
constant  work  for  iiead,  heart,  hands,  and  feet. 

But  few  days  elapsed  at  any  time  without  hearing  the 
roar  of  battle  near  by,  and  sometimes  the  cloud  of  blue 
smoke  met  our  eye.  One  battle  was  fought  within  two 
miles  by  the  negro  soldiers,  only  a  few  days  after  the  ter- 
rible Fort  Pillow  massacre.  They  fought  desperately.  One 
of  their  officers  told  me  they  had  to  command  their  sol- 
diers to  stop,  and  they  obeyed  only  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet;  for  they  mowed  the  enemy  down  like  grass,  al- 
tliough  they  lowered  their  colors  and  began  to  stack  their 
arms.  Their  officers  told  them  to  stop  firing;  but  a  num- 
ber of  soldiers  replied,  while  reloading,  "They  hear  no  cry 
for  quarter  at  Fort  Pillow,"  and  fired  again.  But  when 
the  enemy  stacked  their  arms  they  were  peremptorily  or- 
dered to  stop.  I  (lid  n't  blame  the  boys  f  )r  feeling  as  they 
did  over  tliat  awful  mas.^acre.  But  strange  as  it  seems, 
not  one  of  our  soldiers  was  killed,  or  even  wounded.  There 
was  a  white  r(>giment  in  reserve,  if  needed;  and  the  col- 


%m 


A' 

i  . 

111: 

r:  -^ 

il' 

i-       ■:■ 

1      ■' 

*  ■  ■    !^  ■■ ; 

!  '  : 

■■'*.'  ^  ■: 

|i::. 

.-■M. 

^  *' 

iU^: 

:■  ^lli 

*-'*. 

i  ' 

li  H^ 

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1  .    ^  ,  ; 

^  •  1 

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1'; 

■■    ^  v< 

1 

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l'\\ 

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t%i 


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< 

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.,   1 


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i  :  :r      1, 

.     ^Bl 

1  ■  :       ' 

1 

286 


A  woman's  life-work. 


orcd  soldiers  almost  resented  the  idea  that  they  needed  any 
assistance  whatever. 

There  was  great  excitement  in  the  freedmen's  camp 
that  day  over  their  victory.  Said  one  woman,  whose  hus- 
band and  two  sons  were  soldiers  in  this  battle : 

**  Why  did  n't  you  shoot  away  as  long  as  one  was  lef?" 

"  Our  officers  compelled  us  to  stop." 

"  I  do  n't  care  for  that;  they  need  killin',  every  one." 

Said  I,  "You  would  n't  kill  the  women,  would  you?" 

"Yes,  I  would,"  she  answered;  "for  they's  wussur'n 
the  men." 

"  Well,  there  are  the  innocent  little  children — you 
wouldn't  kill  them,  would  you?" 

Hesitating  a  little,  she  said : 

"  Yes,  I  would,  madam ;  for  1  tell  you  nits  make  vermin." 

She  and  all  her  family  had  belouged  to  Judge  Bullock's 
wife,  and  she  was  still  living  in  her  little  cabin  and  doing 
the  work  for  the  family,  as  she  had  dcme  heretofore,  though 
she  did  not  Avork  so  hard.  She  would  take  the  time  to  do 
our  wasliing  for  us.  She  said  Judge  Bullock  was  harder 
to  ])leasc  than  her  niLstross;  but  he  was  afraid  of  our  sol- 
diers, and  when  Natchez  was  taken  he  kept  hid  in  a  thicket 
of  bushes  in  the  garden  a  inimber  of  days.  They  took  his 
meals  to  him  when  no  one  was  in  sight,  expecting  the 
Yankees  would  kill  every  man  they  met;  but  as  he  found 
it  otherwise  he  came  into  the*  house,  and  now  he  talked 
with  us  quite  freely.  Their  slaves  were  mostly  house- 
servants,  and  better  treated  than  many  others.  Judge 
Bullock  was  formerly  from  the  North,  and  married  in  the 
South,  and  his  wife  inherited  the  slaves.  Their  cook  was 
a  mulatto,  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence,  and  she 
told  me  of  the  most  terrible  scenes  of  barbarity  that  she 
had  witnessed. 

The  maiks  of  cruelty  were  in  that  camp  so  frequently 
seen — men  with  broken  shoulders  and  limbs — that  it  was 
heart-sickeniug   to  listen  to  the  recital  of  their  wrongs. 


A  SLAVE-MASTER  MURDERED. 


287 


do 
ler 

ckct 
liis 
the 

)uud 
keel 

)use- 

dge 

the 

was 

she 

she 

ntly 
was 

Jugs- 


One  man  I  paw  with  a  shred  of  au  ear,  and  I  inquired 
liow  his  ear  became  torn  like  that.  He  hesitated  to  tell 
me,  but  one  of  his  fellow-slaves  said  it  was  done  by  order 
of  their  master;  that  he  was  stripped  and  fastened  by  a 
large  nail  driven  through  his  ear  to  a  tree,  and  the  over- 
seer was  directed  to  whip  him  on  his  naked  body  until  his 
writhings  tore  his  car  out,  and  that  only  ended  the  pun- 
ishment. One  man  by  the  name  of  Matthew  Lasley, 
living  within  two  miles  of  this  city,  owned  one  hundred 
slaves,  and  was  his  own  overseer.  He  worked  his  slaves 
early  and  late,  and  was  proverbial  for  cruelty  to  them. 
They  were  not  half  fed  or  clothed.  A  few  days  after  he 
he  had  sold  the  wife  and  child  of  his  slave  Jack,  they 
were  burning  log  heaps  and  clearing  off  a  few  acres  of 
new  ground.  They  had  worked  until  about  midnight,  and 
were  preparing  to  "  turn  in."  Jack  had  split  an  armful 
of  kindling-wood,  and  was  now  ready  to  go  to  his  lonely 
hut.  Then  his  utter  desolation  rolled  in  ujwn  his  mind. 
When  his  nmstcr  stooped  over  to  light  his  cigar,  the 
thought  <'anie  to  him  like  a  flash  to  kill  him,  and  then  he 
too  would  die,  and  so  would  end  his  bitter  days.  No  sooner 
was  the  thought  conceived  than  the  act  was  done.  The  ax 
was  buried  in  Lasley's  head;  and  he  sank,  a  dead  man, 
without  uttering  a  word.  Jack  came  immediately  to 
the  city,  tapped  on  the  window  of  Dr.  Smith's  sleeping 
apartment,  the  son-in-law  of  Lasley,  and  told  him  he 
Avanted  him  to  go  at  once  to  the  new  clearing  with  him. 
When  the  doctor  went  out  Jack  told  him  that  he  had 
killed  his  master. 

"What  did  you  do  it  for?" 

"Master  .sole  my  wife  and  chile,  an'  I  don't  want  to 
live  any  longer.  Now,  master,  you  may  shoot  me,  or  take 
me  to  jail,  or  <lo  any  thing  you  're  a  min'  to." 

"Well,  Jack,  I  know  you've  had  a  hard  time;  but  I 
shall  have  to  take  you  to  jail,  any  how,  and  see  what  the 
court  will  do." 


I 


1,1  '' 

ft  ^-^ 


, ;  i 


i 


I 
|» 

it 

il 
^1 


5   : 


I     •   > 


<D 


288 


A   WOMAN'S   LIFE-WORK. 


After  ordering  Lasley's  body  to  be  taken  care  of,  he 
returned  to  his  wife  and  told  her  all,  and  added  that  he 
wondered  he  had  not  been  killed  long  before,  as  it  was  what 
he  had  looked  for.  Dr.  Smith  employed  one  of  the  best 
lawyers  in  the  city  to  plead  Jack's  case,  and  had  all  the 
Lasley  slaves  brought  into  court,  not  one  of  whom  was 
without  marks  of  cruelty — a  broken  arm  or  leg,  an  ear  cut 
off,  or  an  eye  out.  They  were  all  in  a  nearly  nude  condi- 
tion, three  children  under  ten  years  of  age  entirely  so. 
The  daughter  begged  her  husband  to  allow  better  clothes 
for  them;  but  the  doctor  and  the  lawyer  insisted  upon 
their  coming  into  court  with  just  the  clothing  provided  for 
them  by  their  master.  The  lawyer  made  an  eloquent  plea 
for  Jack,  and  pointed  to  the  hundred  slaves,  maimed  and 
crippled  and  almost  naked,  and  Jack  was  acquitted. 
Lasley's  extreme  cruelty  had  created  a  public  sentiment  in 
Jack's  favor,  so  that  uncxj)ectcdly  to  himself  his  life  was 
saved.  Jack  was  hunting  for  his  wife  and  child  among 
the  multitude,  but  had  not  yet  succeeded  in  finding  them. 

Week  after  week  was  spent  in  making  personal  inves- 
tigations, measuring  and  preparing  bundles  for  those  nearly 
naked.  As  new  refugees  were  daily  coming  in,  the  officers 
found  it  necessary  to  organize  a  new  camp  over  the  river, 
in  the  rerr  of  Vidalia,  Louisiana,  on  the  Ralston  planta- 
tion. At  a  few  hundred  were  gathered  there  we  went 
over  and  found  them  exceedingly  destitute.  There  were 
twenty  families,  mostly  of  those  recently  enlisted  as  sol- 
diers. Some  of  them  were  almost  ready  to  desert.  Said 
one,  "They  say  we  are  free,  and  what  sort  of  freedom  is 
this,  for  us  to  see  our  families  without  a  board,  shingle,  or 
canvas  to  cover  their  heads?  We  are  concluding  to  leave 
our  regiment  and  build  something  to  shelter  our  wives  and 
children.  They  hav  n't  got  a  place  to  sleej)  at  night  except 
in  the  open  field."  We  told  them  we  would  make  their 
families  our  first  care,  and  advised  them  not  to  leave. 
Upon  this  they  became  more  calm,  and  concluded  to  wait 


*t 


lave, 
kvait 


e 


VISITING  THE  CAMP. 


289 


a  few  (lays  to  see  whether  we  would  succeed.  I  went 
immediately  to  the  i)r<)pcr  ofHcer  to  nuike  iiKjuiries.  He 
said  he  had  ordered  lumber  to  be  sawed  for  the  purpose  of 
building  barracks  for  them,  and  it  ought  to  have  been 
done  by  this  time.  He  sent  his  sergeant  to  see  Avhat  was 
done  toward  it,  and  he  soon  returned  with  the  report  that 
the  lumber  was  sawed,  as  ordered,  but  had  been  used  for 
another  purpose.     He  was  sent  back  with  a  new  order. 

Within  three  days  there  was  a  storm  of  wind,  rain,  hail, 
snow,  and  sleet,  such  as  had  not  been  known  for  years. 
I  spent  another  sleepless  night  listening  to  the  wind  and 
the  pelting  of  hail  upon  the  window-panes.  Early  in  the 
morning  I  went  to  Captain  Thirds  and  asked  for  an  army 
wagon  and  driver,  to  take  a  load  of  bed-clothes  and  wear- 
ing apparel  to  the  camp  for  sister  Backus  to  distribute, 
and  another  to  go  with  me  across  the  river  to  the  new 
camp  on  the  Ralston  plantation.  The  request  was  readily 
granted,  and,  just  as  I  was  ready  to  start,  brother  Wright, 
a  missionary  for  the  other  store,  a  block  above  ours,  came 
in  great  liaste  to  forbid  ray  going  in  this  terrible  storm. 
"It  is  our  duty  to  stop  your  going.  It  is  a  duty  we  owe 
to  your  children  in  Michigan  as  well  as  to  yourself  to  veto 
this  imprudent  step." 

"Your  veto  is  worthless,"  I  said,  "unless  you  will  go 
with  this  load  to  those  twenty  perishing  families  out  in  the 
ojX!n  field  in  this  pelting  storm." 

"I  know  it's  awful,  but  Avhat  will  they  do  if  you  die?" 

"I  will  trust  the  Lord  for  my  preservation.  Unless 
^ome  one  goes  with  this  load  I  must  go." 

"I  dare  not  go;  but  Mr.  Thorn  said  if  I  could  not  hin- 
der your  going  to  tell  you  to  drive  up  to  our  store  and  he 
Avould  put  twenty  new  army  blankets  on  your  load." 

"All  right,"  I  said.  "Driver,  go  up  to  that  store  for 
those  blankets." 

Soon  we  had  an  addition  to  our  load  that  more  than 

'  buried  in  it  to 


resemi 


hay 


myi 


•25 


.Mj 


m 


! :  ..1 


If 


-V'l 


W ;- 
$[ 


290 


v->, 


A   WOMAN'S   LIFE-WORK. 


armpits,  as  I  chose  to  keep  my  arms  out  in  case  of  tipping 
over.  Here  came  hrotlier  Keed,  one  of  the  teachers,  offer- 
ing to  aid  me ;  but  he  had  no  i)as3  or  traus|x)rtation,  and 
no  time  to  get  it.  I  called  the  attention  of  a  passing 
general  to  my  necessity  for  help,  to  be  able  to  return 
before  the  firing  of  the  sundown  gun.  He  said  if  he  was 
in  c(jmniand  he  would  allow  him  to  go  with  my  load,  and 
advised  him  to  try  it.  On  we  hastened,  but  met  an  ambu- 
lance that  Caj)tain  Howe  had  sent  to  the  new  camp  for  a 
sick  Avoman  with  two  small  children.  It  was  obliged  to 
return,  not  being  able  to  pass  through  the  lines,  as  the 
provost  marshal  was  not  to  be  found.  The  supposition 
was  very  strong  that  the  lines  were  closed,  as  it  was  the 
weakest  point  in  the  post,  and  the  smoke  of  rebel  fires  was 
in  sight  on  Lake  Concordia.  A  battle  had  been  fought 
a  few  days  before,  and  another  attack  was  daily  threatened. 
Tiie  driver  and  brother  Reed  were  doubting  the  jjropriety 
of  crossing  the  river.  "For  if  the  lines  are  closed,"  they 
said,  "  the  President  himself  would  not  be  permitted  to 
pass."  But  I  told  them  as  they  did  not  positively  know 
that  the  lines  were  closed,  we  had  better  cross. 

"It  is  your  load,  and  if  you  say  go  we  shall  go,"  said 
brother  Reed. 

•'I  say  go,"  was  my  decision. 

Soon  we  were  in  front  of  the  provost  marshal's  office. 
But  he  was  not  there,  and  no  one  knew  where  he  was. 
After  a  long  search,  in  accordance  with  my  plea,  some  of 
the  guards  discovered  and  brought  him  back,  reeling,  with 
his  head  of  long  hair  thoroughly  decorated  with  feathers 
and  straws.  I  met  him  in  his  office  and  read  to  him  my 
])apers,  holding  them  before  his  face  as  I  would  exhibit  a 
})icture  to  a  two-year  old  baby.  After  explaining  all,  I 
made  my  request  to  pass  his  lines  with  my  load  of  supplies. 

"Who— who's  there?" 

I  told  hiin  who  he  was  that  so  kindly  offered  to  aid  me 
in  disbursing  these  supplies  just  as  I  was  starting;  and  that 


SUFFERING   AT   CAMP. 


291 


a  general  advised  me  to  take  him  Nvith  my  load,  as  he 
would  pass  hiin,  if  in  command. 

"Well,  well,  I  don'  — dou't  —  li-like— this— whole  — 
whole-sa-sale  husiness." 

But  I  })leaded  for  those  suffering  women  and  children 
with  all  the  politeness  I  was  capahle  of  mastering,  with 
disgust  boiling  over.  With  stuttering  and  mumbling  his 
dislikes,  and  shaking  his  head,  with  the  feathers  and  straws 
waving  and  nodding  in  every  direction,  he  took  his  ])en 
and  scribbled  a  pass  that  was  difficult  to  decipher.  The 
next  line  of  guards  hardly  knew  what  to  do  with  it  until 
I  told  them  the  provost  marshal  was  drunk. 

"O,  yes,  and  it's  no  new  trick;  go  on." 

And  without  further  difficulty  we  reached  the  group  of 
sufferers,  who  were  shivering  as  if  in  an  ague  fit.  I  threw 
to  each  family  two  blankets  or  quilts,  and  more  than  forty 
children  were  crawling  between  them  within  three  minutes. 
I  gave  to  each  of  those  twenty  women  a  suit  of  men's 
clothing  that  day  to  help  them  out  o-'  this  intense  suffering. 
I  gave  them  also  three  rag-carpet  blankets  out  of  the  four 
that  were  sent  me  by  a  woman  who  took  up  a  new  rag- 
carpet  she  had  just  put  down,  and  cut  it  into  four  pieces 
after  listening  to  the  recital  of  the  great  suffering  in  these 
camps.  She  said  she  shoidd  put  no  more  carpets  on  her 
floor  as  long  as  the  war  lasted. 

Although  I  had  seen  so  many  marks  of  cruelty  among 
these  people,  yet  I  said  to  myself,  O  that  these  poor  peoj)lo 
had  remained  in  their  old  homes  a  little  longer!  Surely 
they  can  not  suffer  there  like  this.  A  little  girl  cauK!  for 
me  to  go  to  the  old  blacksmith-shop  used  as  a  temporary 
hospital,  as  her  mother  thouglit  her  brother  was  dying, 
and  another  l)rother  was  very  sick.  I  entered  that  shop, 
and  listened  to  the  groans  of  the  dying.  I  re})eated  lo 
myself,  O  that  they  had  waited  a  little  longer!  Four  iiieii 
and  the  little  sou  of  the  distressed  mother  that  sent  for 
me  were  evidently  dying,  and  four  others  were  sick  with 


I 


-('!'! 


,  1       'JVV 


4 


h>  ' 


•  rv4 


::]•  ill 


"'■i 


m . 


r' 


292 


K'^ 


A  WOMAN'S   LIFE-WOllK. 


pneumonia.  The  mother  of  these  two  sick  hoys  was  doing 
all  she  could  for  tlu^iu  all.  I  gave  her  ground  mustard  to 
make  poaltices,  and  ginger  for  those  who  had  chills,  and 
told  her  how  to  use  them.  I  had  a  few  pounds  of  each, 
and  generally  took  a  little  package  with  me,  especially 
after  a  storm.  This  miserable  shelter  leaked  but  little, 
but  one  side  and  one  end  were  so  open  that  we  could  throw 
a  hat  through  the  wall. 

I  saw  a  pile  of  irons  by  the  door.  Placing  my  foot  ou 
a  queer  double-jointed  ring,  I  said : 

"  I  wonder  what  that  queer  sort  of  a  ring  could  have 
l)cen  used  for,"  looking  toward  the  old  dilajjidated  C(jtton- 
gin  near  by. 

"That's  a  neck-iron,"  said  an  old  woman  standing 
near  me. 

"A  neck-iron!     What  do  you  mean?" 

"Why,  it's  an  iron  collar  to  wear  on  the  neck." 

"But  you  arc  certainly  mistaken,"  said  I,  picking  it 
up;  "  you  see  these  joints  arc  riveted  with  imn  as  large  as 
my  finger,  and  it  could  never  be  taken  ofl'over  on^■'s  head." 

"But  we  knows;  dat's  Uncle  Tim's  collar.  Au'  he 
crawled  off  iu  dat  fence -corner,"  pointing  to  the  spot, 
"an'  died  thar,  an'  Massa  George  had  his  head  cut  off  to 
get  de  iron  off." 

"  Is  it  possible  for  a  human  being  to  become  so  brutal 
as  to  cut  a  man's  head  off  when  he  is  dead?" 

She  looked  as  if  she  thought  I  doubted  her  word,  and 
said :  "  It  did  n't  hurt  Uncle  Tim  when  he  was  dead  as 
it  did  when  de  iron  wore  big  sores  way  down  to  do  bone, 
and  da  got  full  o'  worms  aft)re  he  died.  His  neck  an'  head 
all  swell  up,  an'  he  prayed  many,  many  prayers  to  God  to 
come  and  take  him  out  his  misery." 

"How  long  did  he  wear  it?" 

"  'Bout  two  years." 

"  Two  years!  It  is  impossible  for  any  one  to  live  that 
length  of  time  with  this  rough  heavy  iron." 


i  ^'   !  ■■  '*\ 


!>■  y  i 


, 

i  ■  • 

SLAVt:  IRONS  uN   POSSESSION  OF  THE  AUTHOR). 


I. 

t  ■ 

A- 

1  , 1.. 

<   t 

t- 

;! 

'    -^ 

it  ?si 


in 

I 


/ 

l\     ■'■ 

■  ■ '     ,  '    -- 

!'     if;. 

j'l 

I 


» 


'      ( 


8LAVE-IUONS. 


293 


"  "NVc  work  two  seasons,  any  how,  over  in  dat  cotton- 
fid',"  2>ointing  to  the  two-hundrcil-uorc  cotton-iicld  at  onr 
riglit. 

I  took  np  another  iron,  and  inquired,  **  What  sort  of 
an  iron  is  this?" 

"A  kneo-stifTencr,  to  war  on  do  leg  to  keep  'em  IVoni 
runniu*  oif  in  dat  swamp,"  j)oin(ing  to  tlie  (hirk  swamp 
hordering  I^ake  Concordia,  so  I'ully  draped  with  long  South- 
ern moss  that  in  many  places  in  it  nothing  could  be  dis- 
covered three  feet  in  tlic  thicket. 

I  went  to  the  rear  of  the  shop,  with  the  ring  under 
my  shawl.  Hero  stood  a  dozen  or  more  of  old  and  crij)- 
pk'd  men  and  women. 

'*  Did  any  of  this  company,"  I  asked,  "  live  on  this 
plantation  before  the  war?" 

"  Yes,  missus,  six  of  us  live  here.    I  live  hero  seven  year." 

I  drew  out  the  collar,  aiul  asked  if  any  one  could  tell 
me  what  that  was.  One  looked  at  another,  and  asked 
wlicre  I  found  it. 

"  In  that  pile  of  irons  by  the  door,"  I  replied. 

One  said,  in  a  low  tone,  "Dat's  Uncle  Tim's  collar." 

*'  Yes,  missus,  dat  is  iron  collar  to  wear  on  de  neck." 

**  But  you  sec  it  is  fastened  with  heavy  iron  rivets." 

"  Yes,  de  way  you  see  it  is  'case  IMassa  George  Kalston 
order  Uncle  Tim's  head  cut  off  to  get  de  collar," 

"I  want  this  collar,"  I  said,  "and  another  heavy  iron 
a  woman  called  a  knce-stifTener.  This  i)lantation  is  con- 
fiscated, and  these  irons  belong  to  you  as  much  as  to  any 
body.     Will  you  give  them  to  me?" 

Each  seemed  to  wait  for  the  others  to  speak,  but  the 
one  to  whom  I  had  mostly  directed  my  conversation  at 
length  replied : 

"I  reckon  you  can  have  'em;  for  we's  had  all  we 
•wants  ov  'em." 

"  I  thank  you ;  and  if  you  can  find  any  other  slave-irons 
in  that  pile  I  wish  you  would  pick  them  out  for  me  to 


,1- 


/  ;i 


V;  M, 


■i^ 


J,)    'i 


a1 


294 


A    woman's   LI FK- work. 


tiikc  home  to  Michi^'un,  to  sIjow  what  sort  of  jewelry  tho 
colored  people  Imd  to  wear  down  here." 

They  turned  over  the  hcaj),  and  foiur^.  Iron  horn«, 
luind-eufls,  etc.,  and  exphiined  how  they  were  worn.  Tliey 
showed  me  also  where  the  iron  rod  uj)on  whieh  was  sus- 
pended a  hell  was  eut  off  of  Unele  Tim's  eollar. 

Among  the  groii})  was  a  erippk'd  man  walking  with  two 
canes,  elad  in  tattered  cotton  elothes,  that  were  hanging  in 
frozen  strings  from  his  arms  like  ieieles.  I  selected  a  whole 
suit  f(>r  him,  and  a  soldier's  overcoat.  lie  stepped  in  the 
rear  of  a  cabin  and  changed,  and  came  to  me  weeping. 

"I  come  to  show  you,"  he  said;  "dis  is  de  best  dressin* 
I's  ever  had  in  my  life.    An'  I  thanks  you,  an'  i)raise  God." 

As  we  were  standing  on  the  bank  of  tho  river  waiting 
for  the  retiMMi  of  the  ferry  on  her  last  trip  that  day,  there 
were  thirty  or  forty  men  waiting,  ^vho  by  their  favorite 
gray  ai)[)eared  to  bo  rebel  citizens;  but  our  many  bristling 
bayonets  kept  tluun  in  subjection.  The  ferry  soon  took  us 
over  the  river,  and  we  were  within  our  post  before  llui 
sundown  gini  was  fired. 

As  I  had  brought  the  sick  woman  and  two  little  chil- 
dren that  Captain  Howe  had  sent  his  and)ulance  for  in  the 
morning,  in  one  wagon,  I  must  go  to  his  hospital  with 
thera.  This  nuule  us  so  late  that  the  guard  said  I  could  not 
be  allowed  to  enter  the  camp  without  a  permit  from  the 
officer  of  the  night.  I  told  him  where  I  had  been  all  day 
Avithout  a  fire ;  and  as  he  knew  the  storm  had  continued 
until  late  in  the  afternoon,  and  this  sick  woman  whom  the 
captain  had  sent  for  could  not  get  through  the  lines  in  the 
morning,  I  hoped  he  would  read  my  papers.  He  held  up 
his  lantern  to  sec  them  ;  but  as  soon  as  he  caught  sight  of 
my  ohl  i)ortfolio  he  said,  "Go  on,  I  know  who  you  are; 
I  've  seen  that  before."  I  was  permitted  to  leave  my  sick 
family  in  the  hospital,  and  drove  the  two  miles  to  our 
head -quarters  by  eight  o'clock.  Although  very  much 
chilled,  I  felt  relieved,  notwithstanding  I  had  witnessed 


■"^. 


IlKniJ,  IlKCilMKNT  iJUOirCillT  IN. 


295 


le 

le 


^ 


suph  PcrnoH  of  KuH'criiii,'  and  flying'  <Iiinn<^  tluit  event- 
ful (lay. 

One  morning  tlio  littlo  (lruinnier-l)<»y  of  twelve  yiar.s 
of  age  nuirehc'd  into  ('anij)  with  seven  men  tlmt  ho  had 
taken  prisoners,  ruir<^e(l  and  almost  barcl'ootcd.  The  sut- 
fering  nien  were  glad  to  find  comfortiible  quarters.  Oeea- 
eioually  we  found  them  tamely  submitting  to  ho  taken,  on 
'account  of  their  suflerings  for  want  of  food  and  clothing. 
Quo  entire  company,  who  suffered  themselves  to  bo  ca])- 
tured,  told  our  oflicers  if  they  would  allow  them  to  wear 
out  of  sight  some  sort  of  a  Union  mark,  so  as  not  to 
iiifot  with  trouble  from  our  soldiers,  they  would  go  and 
l)ring  in  their  entire  regiment,  as  they  all  wanted  to  eomo 
into  our  lines.  They  were  furnished  with  a  badge  of  na- 
tional colors  to  wear  under  their  coats.  Soon  the  whole 
regiment  were  with  us.  One  of  our  oflicers  said  they  wero 
among  our  most  efficient  hel[).s.  One  of  them  told  mo  if 
they  had  known  the  real  object  of  the  war  they  would 
never  have  gone  into  it;  for  more  than  half  of  them  had 
.  never  owned  a  slave,  and  those  who  did  were  better  off 
without  them.  They  were  surprised  to  find  an  alfuiKhvneo 
of  supplies.  They  had  always  been  told  that  all  the  dif- 
ference between  the  Nortluiru  jx^itple  and  their  slaves  was 
the  color  of  tlieir  skin. 

There  was  great  excitement  during  the  last  presiden- 
tial campaign.  The  slave  passed  through  terrible  experi- 
ences during  1800-01.  It  seemed  to  be  accepted  as  a 
settled  fact,  that  if  Lincoln  was  elected  it  would  result  in 
war;  and  in  many  ])laces  regular  drills  were  instituted. 
In  Natchez  the  half-grown  slave  boys  got  together  on  Sun- 
day afternoons,  and  drilled  with  sticks  for  ginis.  At  first 
it  attracted  no  particular  attention,  and  the  boys  Ixicame 
as  ex^xTt  in  handling  their  stick  guns  as  were  their  masters. 
Two  slave  men  were  overheard  rei)eating  what  their  mas- 
ter said,  that  if  Lincoln  was  elected  he  would  free  all  the 
slaves,  for  he  was  a  Black  Republican ;  and  tUey  declared  that 


11:' 


Ik 


^ 


1 

I 


296 


A  woman's  life-work. 


.  ff 


•1  , .... 
»   .  1 


i  1 


if  this  was  true  they  would  go  to  the  Yankees  and  help  to 
free  their  nation.  This  talk  was  sufficient  to  raise  the  re- 
port of  an  insurrection  throughout  all  that  part  of  the 
State,  and  a  large  vigilance  committee  was  organized  to 
meet  once  a  week  and  report  what  they  might  hear  by 
listening  outside  the  negro  cabins.  All  slave  men  or  boys 
who  were  overheard  to  pray  for  freedom,  or  to  say  any 
thing  indicating  a  desire  to  be  free,  were  marked ;  and  in 
the  discussions  of  this  large  committee  of  a  hundred  men, 
every  thing  that  had  occurred  during  a  few  years  past,  in 
efforts  among  the  slaves  to  learn  to  read  and  write,  was 
magnified  and  construed  as  pointing  toward  a  long  and  set- 
tled purpose  among  the  slaves  to  rise  in  insurrection.  A 
majority  of  this  committee  decided  by  whipping  and  other  tor- 
ture to  compel  confessions  from  all  these  marked  slaves,  and 
then  to  hang  them.  A  number  of  the  committee  resigned 
because  they  would  not  consent  to  these  severe  measures. 
Many  negroes  were  dragged  out  of  their  cabins  or  yards 
without  knowing  the  cause,  stripped,  tied  to  the  whipping- 
post or  taken  to  the  calaboose,  and  given  as  many  lashes 
as  could  be  endured.  At  the  close  of  each  whi})ping  the  suf- 
ferer was  called  upon  to  make  a  full  revelation  of  e\  ery  sen- 
tence that  he  or  she  had  heard  in  favor  of  liberty,  or  of  the 
Yankees,  among  their  people,  either  in  conversation  or 
prayer,  and  by  whom,  with  a  promise  to  be  released  from 
further  punishment.  Never  was  one  released,  but  on  Sat- 
urday generally  ten  or  twelve  of  these  sufferers  were  thrown 
into  a  wagon  and  conveyed  to  the  gallows,  where  they 
were  placed  in  a  row,  and  all  were  hanged  at  the  same 
instant. 

Some  hundreds  were  thus  hanged  in  the  edge  of  the 
city,  and  on  an  adjoining  plantation.  I  carefully  investi- 
gate(i  the  facts,  and  gathered  the  following  statement  from 
both  white  and  colored  citizens.  I  have  good  reasons  for 
placing  entire  confidence  in  its  correctness-  A  large  num- 
ber of  slaves  were  hanged,  owned  by  the  following  persons : 


NEGROES   IIANCJED. 


297 


Frank  Susetts,  26 ;  James  Siisetts,  7 ;  Dr.  Stanton,  8 ; 
Dr.  Moseby,  26 ;  widow  Albert  Diinl)!ir,  48 ;  Mrs.  Brady, 
12;  widow  E.  Baker,  28;  Mrs.  Alexander,  16;  Dr.  George 
Baldwin,  8;  Stephen  Odell,  5;  G.  Grafton,  5;  James 
Brown,  3;  Mr.  Marshall,  1;  Mr.  Rc^binson,  2;  i\Ielon  Da- 
vis, 1 ;  widow  Absalom  Sharp,  3 ;  Miss  Mary  Dunbar,  3 ; 
Joseph  Reynolds,  2;  Baker  Robinson,  3;  Lcc  Marshall, 
whipped  to  death  1 ;  Mrs.  Chase,  whipped  to  death  1 ;  a 
total  of  209. 

I  was  told  by  a  number  of  persons,  both  white  and 
colored,  that  there  were  over  four  hundred  tortured  to 
death  in  this  reign  of  terror,  before  Natchez  fell  into  Union 
hands,  but  I  put  in  ray  diary  only  such  as  I  found  were 
proven  to  be  facts. 

Miss  Mary  Dunbar  was  very  much  distressed  over  the 
loss  of  one  of  her  three  slaves  who  were  hanged,  and  of- 
fered the  vigilance  committee  ten  thousand  dollars  for  his 
release,  but  to  no  purpose.  Joseph  Reynolds  also  offered 
the  committee  $100,000  for  the  release  of  his  two,  but  was 
denied.  One  little  boy  of  twelve  years  of  age  was  taken  to 
the  calaboose  and  whipped,  then  taken  with  the  wagon-load 
of  other  victims  of  their  unrelenting  cruelty  to  the  scaffold, 
followed  by  his  mother  in  wild  despair,  praying  as  she  went 
through  the  streets,  tossing  her  hands  upward:  "O,  God, 
save  ray  poor  boy  I  O,  Jesus  Master,  j)ity  ray  poor  child ! 
O,  Savior,  look  down  upon  my  poor  baby ! "  The  woman 
who  went  with  her  to  the  scaffold  said  she  cried  these 
words  over  and  over;  "and  when  we  got  there,"  she  said, 
"she  fell  on  her  knees  before  the  head  man,  and  begged 
for  the  life  of  her  baby.  But  he  kicked  her  on  her  head, 
and  cursed  her,  and  told  her  the  boy  had  got  to  die.  The 
boy  exhorted  his  mother  not  to  grieve  so  for  him,  *  for  I'm 
going  to  Jesus ;  meet  me  in  heaven ; '  and  he,  with  eleven 
others,  were  swung  off.  The  mother  cried  out,  '  Oh,  my 
God!  my  poor  son!' and  fainted."  So  perfect  was  this 
reign  of  terror  that  not  even  slave-owners,  in  many  cases, 


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A  woman's  life-work. 


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dared  to  protest  against  this  wholesale  butchery.  The  re- 
peated whippings  niaugled  the  bodies  of  many  so  badly 
that  they  were  taken  to  the  gallows  in  a  dying  state.  One 
man  died  while  being  taken  upon  the  scaffold ;  his  sides 
were  cut  through  to  the  entrails,  and  even  a  part  of  them 
protruded.  I  visited  the  calaboose,  which  had  two  apart- 
ments. The  first  entrance  was  large  enough  for  two  per- 
sons to  be  fastened  to  the  strong  iron  staples.  There  was 
room  for  two  men  to  each  victim,  one  on  each  side,  who, 
seated  on  a  stool,  could  alternate  the  strokes  upon  the 
writhing  sufferer.  The  floor  of  this  calaboose  was  of  hard 
wood,  but  it  was  so  thoroughly  stained  with  human  gore 
that  the  grain  of  the  wood  could  not  be  distinguished.  Into 
the  second  room  not  a  ray  of  light  entered  except  on  open- 
ing the  middle  door. 

Frank  Susctts  Avas  a  millionaire  in  the  city  of  Baton 
Kouge,  Louisiana,  and  made  his  boast  that  he  had  no  fear 
of  Yankees,  for  he  had  gold  enough  to  cover  his  front 
walk  from  the  door  to  the  gate,  and  could  buy  up  any 
Yankee  who  might  attempt  to  trouble  him.  *' There  are 
two  things,"  he  said,  "they  can  never  do:  First,  make  me 
poor;  second,  make  me  take  the  oath  of  allegiance."  He 
owned  nine  plantations,  besides  very  much  city  property. 
Though  hundreds  of  his  slaves  hal  loft  him,  he  felt  himself 
secure  in  the  abundance  of  his  wealth.  The  government 
engineer,  who  had  been  casting  about  for  the  best  place  lo 
locate  a  fort,  had  been  looking  over  Frank  Susetts's  place 
and  said  it  was  the  most  elevated  and  desirable  location  he 
had  found  in  the  city,  but  he  rather  hesitated  because  of 
the  magnificent  buildings  it  would  destroy.  When  Susetts's 
independent  words  reached  his  ear  he  at  once  decided,  and 
took  his  men  the  second  time  to  look  over  the  ground. 
Standing  near  the  palatial  mansion,  and  within  hearing  of 
the  owner,  he  said  to  his  men,  "Yes,  yes,  this  is  the  place 
for  our  fort." 
^    Frank    Susetts    approached    him    with    the    offer   of 


THE   TABLES   TURNED. 


299 


O 


thirty  thousand   dollars   in   gold  if  he   would  spare   his 
place. 

"I  can  not  accept  it,  sir,"  said  the  engineer. 

"I  will  give  you  fifty  thousand  dollars  in  gold  if  you 
will  save  it.  It  cost  me  one  hundred  and  seventy-five 
thousand  dollars  to  build  this  house  and  the  out-houses." 

"Should  you  offer  all  that  you  say  it  cost  you,  it  would 
be  of  no  consequence.  We  give  you  ten  days  to  take  away 
every  thing  movable  from  your  premises,  for  this  house 
will  then  be  destroyed  to  make  room  for  the  fort.  This  is 
the  site  we  have  selected." 

At  the  expiration  of  the  time  set,  it  was  in  flames. 
Frank  Susctts  and  wife  stood  a  block  distant  weeping. 
Two  of  their  former  slaves  were  looking  at  the  con- 
flagration. 

"Ah,"  said  one,  "  a  little  while  ago  it  was  massa  Susetts's 
time,  when  he  had  so  many  of  our  people  hung;  now  it  is 
God's  time.  Praise  de  Lo'd,  he's  here  to-day  for  sure. 
Glory  to  Jesus,  massa  Susctts's  day  is  ov'cr;  he  can  never 
have  any  more  of  our  people  hung." 

It  was  now  the  21st  day  of  March,  1864.  ]Many  com- 
plained of  these  turned  tables.  Judge  Bullock  remarked 
tliat  he  couldn't  even  go  to  meeting  without  a  "i)ass;" 
just  what  used  to  be  required  of  the  six  thousand  freed 
slaves  who  were  then  in  this  city  of  refuge.  Painters  were 
seen  in  various  parts  of  the  city  dexterously  using  their 
brushes  in  wiping  out  standing  advertisements  for  the  sales 
of  slaves.  I  saw  a  number  of  these  whitewashed  signs.  In 
some  cases  the  paint  was  too  thin  to  hide  them.  "Slaves, 
horses,  mules,  cattle,  plantation  utensils  sold  on  reasonable 
terms."  They  knew  these  advertisements  were  not  agree- 
able to  Northern  eyes.  But  I  fear  the  covering  of  many 
of  these  hearts  was  as  frail  as  the  tliin  whitewashing  over 
these  advertisements. 

On  the  Ralston  plantation  we  visited  families,  gave 
tickets,  and  directed  them  to  meet  us  at  the  place  and  hour 


ill 


ill 

I 


H 


300 


A  woman's  life-work. 


,lvr. 


im. 


,4  \^' 


\^   h  i 


1-^  i*iJ 


< 

; 

■  1 
; 


appointed.  Hundreds  in  squalid  Avretchedness  were  sup- 
plied. The  following  day,  in  the  afternoon,  all  orphan 
children  were  to  meet  us.  One  hundred  and  twenty-two 
ragged  children  came.  We  placed  them  in  two  rows,  the 
boys  on  one  side  and  the  girls  on  the  other.  Selecting 
each  an  assistant,  we  commenced  measuring  and  distribut- 
ing, keeping  them  all  standing  in  their  respective  places 
until  we  had  given  every  one  something,  but  yet  too  little 
to  meet  their  necessary  wants.  There  were  at  that  time 
twenty-seven  teachers  and  missionaries  in  the  city  repre- 
senting nine  States.  Six  day-schools  and  three  night-schools 
were  established  by  them.  Two  other  schools  were  tfiught 
by  colored  teachers;  one  of  these  was  a  slave  woman,  who 
had  taught  a  midnight  school  for  years.  It  was  opened  at 
eleven  or  twelve  o'clock  at  night,  and  closed  at  two  o'clock 
A.  M.  Every  window  and  door  was  carefully  closed  to 
prevent  discovery.  In  that  little  school  hundreds  of  slaves 
learned  to  read  and  write  a  legible  hand.  After  toiling  all 
day  for  their  masters  they  crept  stealthily  into  this  back 
alley,  each  with  a  bundle  of  pitch-pine  splinters  for  lights. 
Milla  Granson,  the  teacher,  learned  to  read  and  write  from 
the  children  of  her  indulgent  master  in  her  old  Kentucky 
home.  Her  number  of  scholars  was  twelve  at  a  time, 
and  when  she  had  taught  these  to  read  and  write  she 
dismissed  them,  and  again  took  her  apostolic  number  and 
brought  them  up  to  the  extent  of  her  ability,  until  she  had 
graduated  hundreds.  A  number  of  them  wrote  their  own 
passes  and  started  for  Canada,  and  she  supposes  succeeded, 
as  they  were  never  heard  from.  She  was  sold  after  her 
master's  death,  and  brought  to  Mississijipi,  and  placed  on  a 
plantation  as  a  field-hand;  but,  not  being  used  to  field-work, 
she  found  it  impossible  to  keep  up  with  the  old  hands,  and 
the  overseer  whipped  her  severely. 

"  O,  how  I  longed  to  die!"  she  told  me;  "and  some- 
times I  thought  I  would  die  from  such  cruel  whippings 
upon  my  bared  body.     O,  what  a  vale  of  tears  this  was 


slaves' 


NIGHT-SCHOOL. 


301 


hts. 


lad 
own 
ed, 
her 
311  a 


o 


for  poor  me !  But  oue  thing  kept  me  from  sinking,  and 
that  was  the  presence  of  my  dear  Savior." 

Her  liealtli  so  far  gave  way  that  she  reeled  with  weak- 
ness as  sh'"  went  to  and  from  her  work ;  aud  her  master 
saw  she  was  failing,  and  gave  her  permission  to  go  into  the 
kitchen  a  part  of  the  time. 

"  O,  how  thankful  I  was,"  she  went  on,  "  for  this 
promotion !  and  I  worked  as  hard  to  keep  it  as  any  Con- 
gressman could  work  for  some  high  office." 

At  length  her  night-school  project  leaked  out,  and  was 
for  a  time  suspended ;  but  it  was  not  known  that  seven  of  the 
twelve  years  since  leaving  Kentucky  had  been  spent  in 
this  work.  Much  excitement  over  her  night-school  was 
produced.  The  subject  was  discussed  in  their  legislature, 
and  a  bill  was  passed,  that  it  should  not  be  held  illegal  for 
a  slave  to  teach  a  slave. 

"All  this  time,"  said  this  dear  woman,  "I  constantly 
prayed  that  God  would  overrule  this  to  his  own  glory,  and 
not  allow  those  I  had  taught  to  read  his  Word  to  suffer,  as 
we  had  been  threatened.  I  can  not  tell  you  how  my  heart 
leaped  with  praise  to  God  when  a  gentleman  called  to  me 
one  day  on  the  street,  and  said  he  would  inform  me  that 
I  could  teach  my  midnight  school  if  I  chose,  as  they  found 
no  law  against  a  slave  teaching  a  slave," 

This  was  accepted  by  that  trembling  teacher  and  scholars 
as  a  direct  answer  to  prayer.  She  not  only  opened  her 
night-school,  but  a  Sabbath-school.  I  found  more  intelli- 
gence among  the  colored  residents  of  this  city  than  any 
other  Southern  city  I  had  visited.  Milla  Granson  used  as 
good  language  as  any  of  the  white  people. 

We  found  many  little  incidents  to  cheer  in  all  our 
rounds  of  pitiable  scenes  of  sorrow.  We  sometimes  met 
men  and  women  among  those  Southerners  of  correct  views 
en  secession.  One  man  said  he  never  believed  that  slavery 
was  right;  all  the  arguments  brought  forward  in  its  favor 
never  convinced  him.     Although  he  held  a  few  slaves  by 


^  'm 


4:' 


'  f 


UW 


M 


302 


A  woman's  life-work. 


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m 


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6 


i 


Lli-    ^^^ 


■  Hi 


it 


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inheritance,  he  never  could  buy  or  sell  one.  His  black 
people  remained  with  him,  and  he  paid  them  wages  now 
that  they  were  free  by  law,  and  he  was  glad  of  it.  As  he 
was  nearly  sixty  years  of  age  he  had  managed  to  keep  out 
of  the  army,  but  had  to  keep  quiet  on  the  subject  of  seces- 
sion. From  the  first  he  thought  it  the  height  of  folly  to 
resort  to  arms,  as  the  Lord  could  not  prosper  their  under- 
taking. 1  believe  that  man  was  a  conscientious  Christian; 
very  different  in  spirit  from  Judge  Bullock,  who  said  one 
day  in  rather  a  careless  mood,  "  I  think  you  have  one  class 
of  men  in  your  North  the  most  despicable  I  ever  knew." 
Now,  thought  I,  we  abolitionists  are  going  to  take  a  bless- 
ing. "Who  are  they?"  I  asked.  "They  are  that  class 
you  call  Copperheads.  They  are  too  dastardly  to  come 
down  here  and  help  us  fight,  and  they  are  too  pusillani- 
mous to  fight  for  their  own  side." 

Our  daily  work  was  very  wearisome,  having  to  walk 
from  four  to  six  miles  each  day.  Fresh  arrivals  daily  re- 
quired our  attention,  and  after  wind  or  rain  pneumonia 
and  deaths  were  frequent.  Bible-reading  and  prayer  were 
also  a  part  of  our  mission.  One  day,  while  sister  Backus 
was  opening  barrels  and  boxes,  and  sorting  and  arranging 
their  contents  in  our  store,  I  w'cnt  with  a  load,  in  a  re- 
cently confiscated  stage-coach  drawn  by  mules.  One  of 
the  mules  the  colonel  said  he  was  afraid  to  allow  me  to 
ride  after ;  but  I  thought  a  little  mule  could  do  but  little 
harm  with  the  experienced  driver,  and  I  ventured  the  ride, 
taking  in  a  poor  crippled  man  on  the  way,  who  was  just 
coming  into  camp.  He  was  clad  in  a  few  cotton  rags  that 
lie  had  patched  with  old  stocking-tops  and  bits  of  old  tent- 
cloth,  to  hold  them  together,  and  it  was  impossible  to  de- 
tect the  original  fabric.  In  passing  down  the  "Paradise 
Road"  to  the  camp  in  Natchez-under-the-Hill,  the  unruly 
mule  pranced,  kicked,  and  reared,  until  both  of  them  be- 
came unmanageable,  and  the  dust  rolled  up  a  thick  cloud, 
hiding  the  way  before  us,  as  well  as  the  galloping  mules. 


ACCIDENT. 


303 


walk 

ly  re- 

iiouia 
were 

ackus 

ugiiig 
a  rc- 

ne  of 

tiie  to 
little 
ride, 
i  just 
i  that 
tent- 
to  de- 
radise 
inruly 
Im  be- 
cloud, 
mles. 


I  believed  that  we  should  turn  over  at  the  short  curve 
near  the  base  of  the  hill,  where  was  a  number  of  large 
stumps;  and  that  if  we  should  strike  one  of  them  we  should 
be  dashed  in  pieces.  But  prayer  for  a  guiding  hand  seemed 
in  a  moment  to  bring  relief.  We  were  overturned  amid 
stumps,  and  were  dragged  a  few  rods  on  the  side  of  the 
coach,  when  the  canvas  covering  was  detached  from  the 
wheels.  Our  driver  was  dragged  a  few  rods  farther,  while 
the  crippled  man  and  myself  were  doing  our  best  to  crawl 
from  under  the  canvas.  By  this  time  fifteen  or  twenty 
men  reached  us.  I  was  out  and  hauling  the  canvsis  off 
the  groaning  man,  whose  head  and  face  were  covered  with 
blood.  I  told  one  of  the  men  to  run  for  a  pail  of  water, 
for  I  thought  the  poor  man  must  be  dying. 

**  O,  no,  it's  all  right, — it'll  make  me  a  better  man," 
said  he,  while  catching  his  breath,  and  wiping  the  blood 
from  his  mouth. 

"  You  had  better  sit  down  yourself;  you  are  badly  hurt," 
said  one  of  the  men. 

"  O  no,  I  am  not  hurt,"  was  my  reply. 

But  as  I  was  getting  a  little  child's  shirt  ready  for  the  men 
to  wash  the  crippled  man's  head^  I  found  the  front  breadth 
of  my  dress  torn  across,  and  I  had  to  throw  back  my  bon- 
net to  see ;  but  I  knew  my  limbs  were  all  sound.  Al- 
though it  seemed  as  if  we  had  turned  many  somersaults  in 
a  second,  yet  I  never  felt  more  vigorous.  I  knew  the  sur- 
geon of  that  camp  was  within  a  few  rods  of  us,  and  re- 
quested some  one  to  go  for  him  to  care  for  my  comrade. 
I  saw  a  man  carefully  washing  out  the  large  gashes  on  his 
head,  and  I  left  for  the  surgeon,  holding  my  torn  dress- 
skirt  in  my  hand.  Just  as  I  reached  his  office  he  was 
jumping  on  his  horse,  starting  for  mo.  lie  exclaimed  in 
surprise,  "Why,  IMrs.  ITaviland!  I 'vc  just  this  moment 
got  the  word  that  you  were  nearly  killed,  and  I  was  going 
to  see  you." 

**I  am  all  right,"  I  said;  "but  T  wish  you  would  go 


•    I 


L' 


i 


",  > 


'H 


304 


A  woman's  ijfe-work. 


lii: 


.!,  J  ;l 


and  see  to  that  crippled  man,  for  I  am  afraid  he  is  nearly 
killed." 

"  Very  well,  but  I  shall  look  after  you  first." 

By  this  time  he  was  handling  my  arms,  and  pressing 
here  and  there  on  my  body,  I  thought  pretty  harshly;  for 
he  either  found  or  made  some  sore  j)laces.  He  ordered  his 
ambulance,  in  which  I  was  taken  to  head-quarters.  As  I 
was  badly  bruised,  the  surgeon  urged  me  to  take  morphine. 
I  was  sure  of  not  needing  it,  but  pi-omised  to  call  for  it  if 
needed,  and  he  allowed  me  to  go  without  it.  I  found  my- 
self too  lame  to  resume  work  for  a  couple  of  days ;  then  I 
commenced  again  moderately,  but  carried  marks  of  bruised 
flesh  for  a  month  or  more. 

About  two  weeks  after  this,  while  investigating  a  new 
arrival  of  a  company  of  slaves,  I  learned  that  some  of 
them  were  shot  by  their  pursuing  masters,  and  one  woman's 
babe  was  instantly  killed  in  its  mother's  arms ;  but  the 
mother  succeeded  in  passing  into  our  lines,  with  her  dead 
child  in  her  arms,  to  be  buried,  as  she  said,  **/ree."  A 
woman  and  a  little  boy  of  three  years,  with  dresses  torn 
with  briers  to  shreds,  and  feet  and  limbs  swollen  and 
bleeding  with  scratches,  came  in,  from  whom  I  was  getting 
her  sad  history.  Two  gentlemen  passing  by,  halted,  and 
said  one : 

'*  This  looks  as  if  these  would  have  been  much  better 
off  at  their  old  homes.     Don't  yon  think  so?" 

"I  think  this  picture  shows  great  efibrt  in  escaping 
from  their  old  home,"  I  replied. 

"  Do  you  live  here  ?" 

"  I  am  only  a  temporary  resident  here.  My  home  is 
in  Michigan." 

**  May  I  ask  your  name?" 

I  gave  it,  and  he  continued : 

"And  so  am  I  from  Michigan.  I've  heard  ot  you  be- 
fore. I  thought  this  was  some  good  Samaritan,"  giving 
his  hand  for  a  hearty  shake. 


:(:'! 


A  POMPOUS  GENERAL. 


305 


IS 


be- 
ing 


"And  who  is  this?"  I  asked. 

**  I  'm  Dr.  ,  from  one  of  our  Michigan  cities. 

And  what  are  you  doing  here?" 

**I  am  doing  just  the  work  you  see  before  us." 

"  Yes,  and  I  saw  a  span  of  mules  trying  their  best  to 
kill  her  two  weeks  ago,  when  they  came  sailing  down  that 
Paradise  Road  up  yonder ;  but  they  could  n't  do  it,"  said 
his  guide. 

I  asked  him  what  he  was  doing.  He  said  he  had  just 
come  to  see  if  there  was  any  thing  he  could  do.  I  told 
him  of  the  new  camp  on  the  Ralston  plantation,  and  of 
this  camp  of  four  thousand.  I  hoped  he  would  look 
after  these,  as  we  proposed  to  leave  soon  for  other  fields 
of  labor  below. 

On  March  24,  1864,  I  took  letters  to  post-office,  and 
found  one  from  our  dear  friend,  Addie  Johnson,  assistant 
matron  of  Soldiers'  Home,  in  Columbus,  Kentucky.  I 
went  to  General  Tuttle  for  an  order  for  transportation  to 
Baton  Rouge,  and,  as  usual,  introduced  myself  by  handing 
my  official  papers.  Being  a  very  large  man,  he  was  in 
proportion  consequential. 

•'What  do  you  want?" 

I  told  him  I  would  like  transportation  to  Baton  Rouge. 

•'I  don't  know,"  he  said,  "that  I  am  here  to  make 
the  Government  a  great  benevolent  society,  by  giving  every 
thoroughly  loyal  and  earnest  Christian  man  or  woman 
transportation." 

"Is  there  not  an  order,"  I  replied,  "from  Adjutant- 
general  Thomas,  granting  us  transportation,  rations,  and 
quarters?" 

"I  have  received  no  such  order  personally." 

I  bade  him  good  morning,  and  left  his  office,  fully  de- 
termined to  bring  him  an  order,  although  I  knew  he  must 
have  seen  one.  My  purpose  Avas  to  take  the  first  boat  to 
Vicksburg,  as  General  Thomas  was  then  in  that  city,  to 
see  whether  his  order  was  to  Iw  honored.     Passing  Coltmel 

2t} 


il-.L: 


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30G 


A   woman's   LIFK-WOIIK. 


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YouDg's  offico,  I  called  to  see  if  he  could  grant  the  favor, 
and  found  that  he  could  give  the  transportation  desired ; 
consequently  I  left  the  general  without  troubling  him  fur- 
ther. On  my  return  I  called  at  the  other  mission  store, 
and  met  brother  Burlingamc  and  Isaac  Thorne,  who  also 
Avished  to  go  below,  but  were  doubtful  whether  General 
Tuttle  would  give  them  transportation.  They  said  they 
were  waiting  to  learn  of  my  success,  and  were  surprised  to 
find  that  Colonel  Young  had  the  i)ower  to  grant  it. 

We  took  the  steamer  "J.  H.  Russell"  for  Baton  Rouge. 
On  March  27th,  Sunday  morning,  Ave  passed  the  mouth  of 
Red  River,  where  was  a  gun-boat,  from  which  a  few  pris- 
oners were  taken  aboard  of  our  boat.  A  woman  named 
Crosly  was  also  taken  on  board,  to  go  to  New  Orleans  for 
the  purpose  of  exposing  those  who  had  run  through  our 
lines  contraband  goods.  There  was  a  woman  of  property 
and  standing  on  the  boat,  who  still  held  her  household 
servants,  and  made  her  boast  that  no  one  could  even  hire 
her  slaves  to  leave  her. 

"  I  \\  like  to  see  any  one  offer  my  niggers  a  book,"  she 
declared;  *'I  reckon  they'd  take  it  as  an  insult.  They'd  tell 
you  mighty  (piick  they  'd  no  use  for  books  or  schools.  The 
niggers  never  will  be  as  haj)py  as  they  have  been.  They'll 
.soon  die  out.  It 's  fearful  to  see  them  die  off  as  they  do 
in  these  camps.  They  know  nothing  of  taking  care  of 
themselves.  Tiiey  are  cared  for  by  us  as  tenderly  as  our 
own  children.  I  tell  you,  they  are  the  ha])piest  people 
that  live  in  this  country.  If  they  are  sick  the  doctor  is 
sent  for,  and  they  are  cared  for  in  every  way ;  they  know 
notliing  of  care." 

"If  they  are  such  a  happy  class  of  people,  how  was  it. 
that  you  had  such  a  time  of  punishing  and  hanging  theia 
Avithin  the  last  two  years?"  I  asked. 

"O,  that  had  to  be  done  to  saA'eour  lives,  because  they 
were  about  to  rise  in  an  awful  insurrection." 

*'  But  what  would  induce  them  to  rise  in  insurrection, 


INSIDE  VIEW  OF  SLAVKIIY. 


307 


ly'll 
do 
of 
our 
Dple 
ir  is 
[low 

Is  it 

leiA 

|hey 
lou, 


O 


when  they  aro  so  happy  and  contented  as  you  have  de- 
scribed r 

"  O,  there  is  always  somebody  ready  to  put  the  devil 
in  their  heads,"  was  hw  ready  reply. 

But  Mrs.  Crosly's  report  was  of  a  very  different  char- 
acter. 8he  said,  "There  has  never  been  the  lialf  told  of  this 
hell  upon  earth — the  aw  Ad  uiekedness  on  these  lied  Kiver 
l)lantatioiis,  where  I  have  lived  ever  since  I  was  fifteen 
years  old.  If  you  knew  what  I  have  passed  through,  you 
Avould  not  wonder  that  there  is  nothing  but  a  wreck  left 
of  me.  I  married  a  plantation  black.smitii  when  a  young 
girl  of  fifteen,  and  left  my  ])eopIe  in  Indiana,  as  my  hus- 
band was  hired  by  a  rich  slave-holder,  Mr.  Samuel  I^ay, 
who  lived  on  Red  River.  We  lived  on  his  plantation  many 
years,  tliough  he  used  to  do  a  great  deal  in  ironing  negroes 
for  neighboring  planters." 

I  told  her  of  the  slave-irons  I  had  found  on  a  deserted 
plantation,  to  take  to  my  Michigan  home 

"Don't  let  tlie  people  here  know  it,"  slie  said,  "or 
they  will  take  them  from  you  and  drop  them  in  th<>  river; 
for  they  bury  tbem,  or  throw  them  in  tlie  river  or  creek, 
to  put  them  out  of  sight  of  Yankees.  When  tlie  cily  was 
taken  they  sent  painters  all  over  tlic  city,  witii  brushes 
and  paint-buckets,  to  paint  over  all  advertising  signs  of 
slaves  for  sale,  and  hid  all  slave -irons  they  could  lay 
hands  ou." 

I  told  her  that  was  done  in  Xatchez,  when  that  city 
was  taken. 

"And  that  is  just  what  they  did,"  she  went  on,  "in 
Vicksburg.  Among  the  slave-irons  you  found,  were  there 
any  of  those  new-fashioned  gags?" 

I  told  her  that  there  were  not. 

"  You  ought  to  get  some  of  them.  If  I  were  at  home 
I  could  get  you  two  or  three  kinds;  l)ut  you  ought  to  see 
the  new  gags  anyhow.  They  arc  made  witli  barbs,  as 
they  make  on   fisli-hooks,  and   they   pierce   the   tongue   if 


r  ! 


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808 


A  woman's  mfi:-w()UK. 


B!     1 


I     * 


thoy  attempt  to  spcjik  or  nmko  a  noise.  Thoy  can  't  live 
many  liour.s  with  ono  of  tlicin  in  tliolr  months,  for  tho 
toiiguo  hwcHh  np  so.  Mr.  Lay  had  an  ohl  .«hivo  woman 
we  called  Ainit  Hannah  whipped,  and  gagged  with  that 
new  gag,  and  left  her  all  night  in  her  oahin ;  and  when  I 
opened  her  door  her  tongnc  wa.s  swollen  ont  of  her  mouth 
and  looked  so  awful,  I  would  n't  have  known  her  if  she 
had  n't  heen  in  her  own  cabin.  I  told  'em  she  groaned  so, 
I  reckoned  she  was  dying,  and  they  sent  for  the  doctor  to 
come  and  cut  the  barhs  out,  and  he  told  Mr.  Lay  she  would 
have  died  in  an  hour  longer.  It  was  a  long  time  before 
she  recovered  from  it.  But  as  near  as  she  was  to  dying,  tho 
overseer  left  Ben  all  night  with  that  kind  of  a  gag ;  and 
they  found  him  dead  in  the  morning.  You  of  the  North 
have  no  idea  of  the  perfect  hell  upon  earth  we  've  had 
down  here.  Mr.  I^ay  brought  Alice  from  Kentucky,  and 
she'd  been  a  kitcken-maid,  and  never  worked  in  the  cot- 
ton-field till  she  came  here.  The  overseer  was  a  mighty 
hard  man,  and  he  drew  that  hmg  whip  of  his  over  her 
shoulders  so  often  because  she  could  n't  keep  up  with  the 
other  hands,  that  she  ran  away  in  the  bush,  and  was  gone 
two  days  before  they  caught  her.  Then  they  whipped  her 
awfully,  Jind  in  two  or  three  days  they  drove  her  out  in 
the  field.  Within  a  week  she  ran  away  again,  and  was 
gone  about  two  weeks.  They  caught  her  with  the  help  (^f 
bloodhounds;  and  when  she  was  brought  in,  her  arms  were 
torn  by  the  dogs,  and  I  trembled  for  the  poor  girl,  for  I 
knew  they'd  nearly  kill  her.  Sure  enough,  the  first  I 
knew  my  husband  had  her  at  his  shop,  to  iron  her  with  a 
full  set.  There  was  a  kuee-stiffener,  an  iron  collar  with  a 
bell,  and  a  pair  of  handcuflTs,  with  a  chain  between  to  allow 
her  to  use  the  hoe.  When  I  saw  the  heavy  irons  I  went  to 
the  shop  and  begged  Mr.  Crosly  not  to  iron  Alice  like  that, 
for  it  would  kill  her,  as  she  was  badly  torn  by  the  dogs. 
But  he  swore  at  me,  and  told  me  to  go  back  into  the 
house,  where  I  belonged ;  this  wjis  his  business.     I  went 


A    UFA  A.   OS    KAIiTII. 


300 


the 
lent 


back  and  cried  over  it  till  it  appoured  t  couldn't  live;  and 
I  went  out  again  and  begged  him  not  to  put  on  all  these 
irons;  for  he  knew  they  wi^re  heavier  than  the  law  allowed, 
and  ho  would  commit  murder,  for  she  could  not  live  in 
this  way.  But  he  only  swore  at  mo  the  more.  At  this 
Mrs.  Lay  came  out  in  a  rage,  and  said  she  would  see 
whether  any  one  could  come  in  and  interfere  .vith  the  pun- 
isiiment  of  any  of  her  slaves,  and  ordered  another  slave  to 
cut  across  both  of  her  feet  with  a  poc^ket-knife,  through 
the  skin,  so  that  blood  was  left  in  her  tracks.  I  turned 
away,  for  I  thought  they  would  murder  the  poor  girl  be- 
fore my  »^yes;  and  I  cried  myself  sick  and  could  n't  sleep, 
for  I  thought  she  must  die  before  morning.  The  cotton- 
iield  was  opposite  my  window,  and  after  breakfast  I  watched 
to  see  the  hands  go  to  tbeir  work;  and,  sure  enough,  there 
was  poor  Alice  hobbling  out  into  the  cotton-field.  They 
had  been  at  work  but  a  little  while  when  a  heavy  blow 
from  the  whii)-han(llc  on  the  back  of  her  head  brought 
her  to  the  ground.  '0,  my  God!*  I  cried,  to  see  that 
overseer  hit  her  like  that  because  she  could  n't  keep  up  her 
row.  I  prayed  God  that  Alice  might  die  at  once  and  be 
out  of  her  misery ;  and,  sure  enough,  they  brought  her  out 
of  that  field  dead !  I  was  glad  of  it.  ./oor  girl!  she  could 
suffer  no  more  under  their  hands." 

"  And  did  not  her  death  call  forth  some  action  from 
the  law  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Nothing  of  the  kind  was  ever  noticed  on  our  planta- 
tion. I  tell  you  it  was  a  perfect  hell  on  earth  down  here ; 
you  do  n't  know  anything  about  it;  and  yet,  if  these  things 
are  told,  they  '11  deny  it,  and  call  them  black  abolition 
lies,  when  it 's  God's  truth,  and  they  know  it.  There  was 
Uncle  Jack,  poor  fellow !  He  ran  away,  and  they  brought 
him  in  with  the  hounds,  after  he'd  been  gone  a  week,  and 
they  made  him  strip  and  lie  down  on  his  face,  and  fastened 
his  hands  and  feet  to  inm  rings.  Then  a  man  sat  on  each 
side  of  him  to  do  the  whipping,  alternating  iu  their  strokes 


r  ■  I 


ILM 


■;rti 


■  t  'i( 


r^  f 


i 


310 


V''< 


A   WOMAN'S   LIFE-WORK. 


'<    i' 


J  '<■ 


f»' 


t        ! 


>•{' 


i'll 


J     . 


from  his  feet  to  his  head,  thoa  back  to  his  feet,  and  so 
back  and  forth  until  they  'd  given  him  one  hundred  hishes. 
I  passed  by  them,  and  saw  his  back  cut  up  to  a  raw  jelly, 
and  the  flesh  twitched  as  you  've  seen  newly  killed  beef. 
But  this  was  not  all.  They  took  burning  pitch-pine  slivers 
and  held  them  over  his  quivering  flesh,  dropping  the 
melted  blazing  pitch  from  his  head  to  his  feet.  After  this 
awful  torture,  the  two  men  carried  him  to  his  cabin,  I 
thought,  to  die ;  and  I  had  another  all-night  cry  over  Uncle 
Jack.  He  was  not  able  to  go  out  in  the  field  again  for  two 
weeks." 

Mrs.  Crosly  related  many  other  incidents  in  her  own 
experience,  some  of  which  are  too  shocking  for  the  public 
eye  or  ear. 

"My  husband,"  she  said,  "bought  two  slave  women, 
one  of  whom  w'as  the  mother  of  two  illegitimate  children, 
that  my  children  were  compelled  by  their  father  to  address 
as  brotlier  and  sister.  He  also  brought  the  mother  to  my 
apartments,  and  occupied  my  parlor  bedroom  with  her  for 
years — all  to  aggravate  me.  I  did  n't  blame  the  woman 
IMolly,  for  she  could  n't  help  herself  She  and  I  cried  to- 
gether over  this  slate  of  things  for  hours,  many  a  time. 
She  often  begged  my  husband  to  let  her  live  a  virtuous 
life,  but  it  was  of  no  use.  He  would  only  threaten  to 
punish  her.  Poor  thing!  we  felt  sorry  for  each  other,  and 
she  used  to  do  all  she  could  for  me.  I  am  so  thankful  she 
can  now  go  where  she  pleases.  She  took  her  two  children, 
and  with  the  other  woman  went  as  soon  as  they  could  get 
through  the  lines.  I  am  so  glad  all  the  slaves  are  free. 
Mr.  Crosly  has  got  our  oldest  boy  with  him  in  the  army, 
and  threatens  to  take  my  youngest  boy  of  fourteen.  But 
the  Union  officers  say  they  will  confiscate  our  property  and 
make  it  over  to  me  and  my  boys,  so  that  Mr.  Crosly  can 
not  take  it  from  me." 

The  terrible  scenes  she  had  passed  through,  and  wit- 
nessed, substantiated  our  oft  expressed  opinion  that  unlim- 


TRIALS   OF   SLAVE   LIFE. 


311 


)U9 

to 

ud 
she 
rcn, 

get 
rcc. 

my, 

But 
aud 
can 

wit- 
lim- 


ited  power  on  tlie  part  of  slave-owners  was  equally  degrad- 
ing to  the  slave-holder  and  to  the  slave.  Even  more  :  it 
fo.^tered  the  worst  passions  of  a  depraved  nature.  Her  ex- 
perience was  no  isolated  one.  Such  cases  in  many  locali- 
ties were  neither  few  nor  far  hetween. 

On  March  28th  we  learned,  with  surprise,  that  the 
bright  light  we  saw  the  evening  before,  as  we  came  from  the 
sohliers'  meeting,  was  the  steamer  "J.  II.  Russell"  burn- 
ing to  the  water's  edge.  No  lives  were  lost,  but  all  tlie 
baggage  of  passengers  and  many  mules,  horses,  cattle,  and 
sheep  and  other  government  supplies  were  destroyed.  O, 
how  thaid^^ful  we  were  that  we  exchanged  hoats  when  we 
did,  and  were  safely  landed  here  in  Baton  Rouge.  "Bless 
the  Lord,  O  my  soul!  and  forget  not  all  his  benefits,"  was 
my  first  thought.  How  many  favors  are  often  bestowed 
in  disguise! 

At  three  o'clock,  P.  M.,  I  attended  a  meeting  of  colored 
people  at  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  which  was  built 
by  themselves,  and  upon  invitation  addressed  them.  I 
spoke  perhaps  twenty  minutes,  taking  for  my  theme  Psalm 
cxi,  12:  "I  know  tl)e  Lord  will  maintain  the  cause  of  the 
afflicted,  and  the  right  of  the  poor."  At  the  close  of  the 
meeting  the  colored  people  gathered  around  us,  and  gave 
us  such  a  hand-shaking  and  "God  bless  you"  as  we  seldom 
find  outside  of  this  oppressed  people. 

In  the  evening  more  than  a  dozen  came  to  our  lodgings 
and  s})ent  two  hours  recounting  the  triads  of  their  slave- 
life,  which  were  of  thrilling  interest.  O,  what  a  bitter 
draught  was  theirs,  even  to  the  very  dregs!  One  poor  man 
named  Henry,  owned  by  John  Reese,  near  Baton  Rouge, 
for  the  crime  of  visiting  his  wife  and  childnMi  oftener  than 
once  a  month  against  his  master's  command,  was  ordered 
to  be  nailed  to  a  tree  by  his  ear,  and  whipped  until  it  tore 
out.  But  even  more  awful  scenes  of  persecution  and  out- 
rage these  people  passed  through,  which  we  can  not  record. 
We  closed  our  interview,  after  listening  to  their  sae    ^"itals, 


n-l 


:  r 


m 


':f 


^?' 


I 


lif  --i:' 


in 


• 


312 


A  woman's  life-work. 


with  prayer,  iu  which  all  took  part.  A  solemn  season  it 
was,  to  mingle  our  tears  and  voices  with  those  who  had 
passed  through  such  scenes  of  suffering  and  were  now  prais- 
ing the  Lord  for  freedom. 
^  On  Tuesday,  29th,  we  visited  the  general  hospital  in 
the  nohlc  asylum  for  the  mute  and  blind.  Of  the  latter 
there  were  thirty  inmates.  They  played  on  the  piano  and 
sang  very  sweetly,  and  we  were  intei'ested  iu  seeing  the 
mutes  converse  with  each  other  in  their  sign  language. 
One  little  fellow  was  asked  by  the  matron  to  give  us  tiieir 
name  for  Yankee.  He  quickly  passed  his  fingers  through 
each  other,  and  we  all  laughed  to  see  ourselves  with  such 
an  unstable  name.  All  seemed  much  pleased  to  receive 
our  visit. 

AVe  found  here  our  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  with 
nothing  but  army  supplies,  boiled  fat  pork  and  bread. 
Surgeon  Pole  told  us  they  were  out  of  other  supplies.  We 
sent  immediately  to  New  Orleans  for  dried  fruit,  crackers, 
etc.,  and  within  four  days  they  came  rolling  in  by  the 
barrel.  We  left  this  marble-faced  edifice  to  visit  a  few 
camps  surrounding  the  city  of  Baton  Rouge.  By  request  I 
attended  a  six  o'clock  meeting  in  the  chapel  for  soldiers  at 
the  general  hospital,  accompanied  by  Rev.  Joel  Burlingamc 
and  Rev.  Mr.  Merryfield. 

On  WednescUiy,  30th,  we  spent  some  time  in  visiting 
and  distributing  tracts  and  Testaments,  and  conversing 
with  soldiers.  We  also  visited  a  colored  school  of  two 
hundred  and  twenty-four  pu])ils.  All  were  much  engaged 
in  study.  We  were  invited  to  address  them.  Sister  Backus 
and  myself  complied,  and  it  seemed  gratifying  to  them  and 
satisfactory  to  us.  We  returned  to  our  pleasant  boarding 
pUice,  wrote  a  letter,  and  made  a  nuniber  of  calls.  We 
found  a  woman  who  used  to  sympathise  with  Eliza  Wilson 
in  her  slave-trials  previous  to  her  escape  to  the  North. 
Through  her  we  heard  from  Eli/a's  littU;  girl,  whom  she 
left  with  her  old  master  Bissel.     A  few  davs  before  she 


WOUNDED  SOLDIERS. 


313 


two 
liigcd 
Ickus 

and 
|(liiiS 

We 
lilson 

jrth. 
she 
she 


had  come  to  licr  aunt,  in  Phiquemine,  ^bout  nine  niih»s,  in 
the  night,  she  heard  that  Yankee  soldioi\s  wore  in  posses- 
sion of  that  town.  She  liad  been  lohl  that  a  certain  road 
led  to  Phiquemine,  and  took  it  in  a  moonhglit  night  and 
found  her  aunt.  Although  she  was  only  about  ten  years 
of  age,  and  could  not  remember  her  mother,  yet  this  woman 
said  the  child  had  heard  I  was  going  to  take  her  to  her 
mother,  and  that  she  was  nearly  insane  over  it.  I  had 
previously  sent  word  to  them  by  a  sohlier  who  was  a  dis- 
patch-bearer, that  the  mother  was  very  anxious  to  get  her 
child  if  she  was  within  our  lines;  and  when  he  returned  to 
Phiquemine  he  found  the  child  and  hel|)ed  her  to  escape 
from  Bissel  with  much  less  trouble  than  her  mother  had 
had  sevt  n  years  before. 

About  the  close  of  the  mouth  we  took  a  long  walk  to 
Fort  Williams,  where  were  three  thousand  sick  and 
wounded  soldiers.  The  scenes  here  were  indescribable. 
The  mingled  language  of  acute  distress,  in  prayer,  groans, 
and  occasional  oaths  from  the  profane,  could  be  hoard. 
One  young  man  seemed  too  near  deatli's  door  to  sur- 
vive. Said  he:  "If  I  die  it  will  l)e  suddenly,  upon  the 
amputation  of  this  arm.  It  is  too  late  for  me  now ;  but 
if  I  am  spared  I  will  seek  an  interest  in  Christ."  But  we 
had  heard  the  cry  of  des})air  before,  and  could  not  give 
him  up.  The  arm  was  taken  oft'  without  causing  instant 
death,  as  he  was  fearing.  He  tlien  became  an  eager  lis- 
tener, and  said  he  could  now  pray  for  j)ar(lon,  and  believed 
that  the  merciful  Redeemer  would  grant  the  earnest  desire 
of  his  soul.  We  found  a  few  men,  whose  lives  were  given 
up  by  the  surgeon,  who  were  tni4iii(i,  and  possessed  the 
comforting  assurance  of  a  glorious  future.  As  we  were 
about  to  leave,  another  soldier  attracted  our  attention,  who 
said  he  was  not  a  Christian,  but  wished  to  be,  and  after 
repeating  a  few  promises  and  praying  with  him  we  left. 
In  tears,  he  requested  us  to  see  hin>  again. 

While  we  were  waiting  for  a  boat  for  New  Orleans  we 

21 


i 


1  t 


wr^ 


*'i 


I"" 


H         8 


I- 


i 


I 
'  i 


314 


A  woman's  life-work. 


again  visited  the  hospital,  and  found  both  of  those  who 
were  anxious  at  our  ])revious  visit  rejoicing  Christians. 

I  went  to  tl»e  office  to  inquire  for  a  steamer  for  New 
Orleans,  and  on  leaving  was  accosted  by  a  young  man 
with  the  query  whether  I  was  looking  for  a  boat.  As  he 
saw  that  I  noticed  the  feather  in  his  drab  hat,  and  star, 
with  stripes  on  the  sleeves  of  his  gray  coat,  he  remarked 
that  he  was  an  exchanged  prisoner,  and  was  on  his  way  to 
his  home  at  Atlanta,  Georgia.     Said  I : 

"  You  appear  like  a  young  man  of  intelligence,  and  I 
hope  by  the  time  you  reach  your  home  you  Avill  conclude 
to  cast  your  net  on  the  right  side." 

"We've  been  fishing  on  the  right  side  these  three 
years,"  he  replied;  "and  we'll  fight  three,  ten,  or  twenty 
years  longer,  if  we  live  so  long,  but  what  we  will  have  our 
rights — the  right  to  hold  our  .«lave  property  without  inter- 
ference from  Northern  abolitionists.  You  need  not  judge 
of  our  strength  because  you  have  a  little  strip  of  this  river, 
and  our  folks  arc  rather  discouraged  here,  and  tired  of 
war.  If  you  could  sec  our  troops  in  Virginia,  you  'd  see 
as  hopeful  and  jolly  a  set  of  fellows  as  you  ever  saw.  Give 
up?  No,  never!  I  tell  you,  madam,  we  are  determined 
to  have  our  independence  if  we  fight  till  we  die." 

"I  am  sorry,"  I  answered,  "you  can  not  be  induced 
to  adopt  a  course  worthy  of  your  zx-al.  Young  man,  the 
worst  wish  I  have  for  you  is  that  you  may  be  prepared  to 
die,  for  the  fiat  of  the  Almighty  is  against  you.  Tiie 
sword  and  the  boys  in  blue  are  going  to  bring  you  to  terms. 
You  will  never  again  buy  and  sell  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren like  horses,  cattle,  and  sheep  in  the  market.  The 
judgments  of  the  Lord  are  upon  you  for  these  things." 

"  You  need  n't  think  God  is  on  your  side,  for  you  've 
made  our  niirgcrs  our  masters.  Look!  Avithin  four  rods 
of  us  stand  nigger  j)ickets,  with  their  bayonets,  and  we 
can't  pass  those  bayonets  without  a  i)ass — and  our  own 
niggers,  too.     I  tell  you,  madam,  if  I  could  have  my 


• 


EEPRESENTATIVE  SOUTHERNERS. 


315 


•( 


ve 

)(ls 

■\ve 
my 


way,  I  'd  have  a  mpo  around  every  uigger's  ucck,  and 
hang 'em,  or  dam  up  this  Mississippi  Rivv^r  with  thorn;" 
and  his  bhick  eyes  flashed  with  fury.  "Only  eiglit  or  ten 
miles  from  this  river  slaves  are  working  for  their  masters 
as  happily  as  ever." 

"  We  know  that  they  are  remairing  on  many  planta- 
tions; but  we  know  of  a  number  of  plantations  that  arc 
worked  by  their  former  slaves  because  their  former  mas- 
ters are  paying  them  wages.  But  if  they  are  as  happy 
and  contented  as  you  describe,  why  do  we  see  them  daily 
coming  into  these  camps,  frequently  for  twenty  to  fifty 
miles,  wading  swamps  and  creeks,  with  swollen  and  bleed- 
ing feet  ?  Why  all  this  painstaking  to  get  away  from  their 
masters,  if  they  are  so  attached  to  them?" 

"  They  are  poisoned  by  the  Yankees.  You  talk  about 
the  justness  of  your  cause — any  thing  but  justice  to  put 
arms  in  the  hands  of  these  niggerc,  to  be  our  masters — to 
set  our  slaves  over  us  with  gim  and  bayonet.  Ciod  Al- 
mighty will  never  prosper  you — never." 

*'  I  see  I  can  say  nothing  that  will  avail  with  you.  I 
perceive  that  it  is  beyond  the  jx)wer  of  man.  Hoping  that 
a  Higher  Power  may  reach  you,  I  bid  you  farewell." 

With  these  words,  I  turned  away;  but  had  not  ad- 
vanced five  feet  when  he  called  out: 

"  Madam,  I  hojK;  we  '11  get  the  same  boat.  I  'd  like  to 
see  you  again ;  for  I  like  to  meet  people  who  stand  up  for 
their  own  jiriuciples." 

Widely  differing  from  this  captain's  spirit  was  another, 
who  was  the  owner  of  a  large  [)lantation,  with  numerous 
slaves,  vet  a  strong  Union  man,  and  his  wife  and  dauirh- 
ters  sympathized  with  him.  Before  the  fall  of  Vicksburg 
lie  called  all  his  slaves  together,  and  told  them  this  war 
would  result  in  the  freedom  of  every  slave  in  the  United 
States,  and  he  wanted  now  to  make  an  arrangement  with 
them  to  work  for  him  as  heretofore.  He  promised  to  pay 
all  the  grown  bauds  eight  dollars  a  mouth,  and  board  them 


H 


(1j 


ir^ 


31G 


A  woman's  lifk-woiuc. 


I 


it 


n- 


ii 


ill 


* 


i    I 


<>:      J 


^vitll  tlicir  families  as  he  had  done  before,  and  to  pay  them 
at  the  ch)sc  of  each  month.  AVith  tears  of  gratitude,  they 
accepted  his  proposition.  He  told  them  that  tliis  arrange- 
ment must  be  ivcpt  secret,  for  their  safety  as  well  as  his  own; 
for  they  all  knew  tii(!re  had  always  been  a  prejudice  against 
him  because  he  allowed  them  privileges  that  other  planters 
adjoining  them  did  not.  They  said  to  him,  "  Your  niggers 
think  they  arc  white,"  because  ho  never  would  have  an 
overseer  on  his  ])lantation,  and  would  not  liave  whipping 
and  ])unishing  among  his  grown  people,  and  the  families 
among  his  slaves  managed  their  own  children.  He  came 
into  our  lines  as  soon  as  he  could,  to  save  his  life;  and  he 
told  us  he  had  not  visited  his  home  for  a  long  time,  except 
f<i  i;;bt,  iis  his  life  had  been  threatened,  and  that  his  wife 
and  !;'■  . ''^rrs,  for  their  own  protection,  kej)t  loaded  pis- 
tols at  tUeir  bedside.  He  had  also  armed  a  number  of  his 
serv.iiit^,  as  they  Averc  likewise  exposed  to  an  attack.  He 
was  ci  noMlc-ai>p("inng  man,  and  said,  in  conversation: 
"Mrs.  Haviland,  I  have  always  held  the  same  views  on 
the  subject  of  slavery  that  you  do;  but  it  was  against  the 
law  to  free  them  and  allow  them  to  remain  here,  and  we 
could  not  send  them  away  Avithout  breaking  up  some  of 
th(Mr  families.  But  I  rejoice  that  it  has  come  to  an  end ; 
and  I  know  of  others  who  rejoice,  but  they  do  so  secretly." 
His  wife  came  to  see  him  while  we  were  there,  and  seemed 
to  be  a  woman  of  sterling  principle.  She  said  they  had  to 
watch  day  and  night,  fearing  their  buildings  would  bo 
burned,  and  perhaps  some  of  them  murdered. 

We  called  on  a  widow  and  her  two  daughters  who  were 
in  deep  affliction  on  account  of  the  bitterness  of  feeling 
toward  them  in  consofpience  of  their  Union  principles. 
They  were  a  Christian  family,  and  owned  some  property  in 
the  country,  besides  their  residence  in  town.  A  number  of 
our  officers  boarded  with  her.  I  was  in  her  family  a  day 
or  two,  and  as  I  left  I  took  out  my  purse  to  pay  her. 
"Don't  opeu  that,"  she  cried;  "I  can't  take  a  farthing. 


rORT   IIUDSOX. 


317 


ail 


pere 

Jing 

lies. 

in 

of 

|lay 

kr. 


ng. 


You  don't  know  what  we  have  to  endure.  I  have  two 
brothers  in  the  rebel  army,  and  when  they  eauie  honu>, 
because  I  told  them  thev  were  fi<;litin<;  aiiaiiii^t  God  in 
fighting  against  the  Unicm,  they  sw<»ro  at  me  and  threat- 
ened to  take  my  life;  they  said  I  was  a  Southern  Yankee, 
and  they  were  the  worst  of  all.  I  exjx^et  they  '11  burn  my 
house  some  night  or  get  some  one  else  to  do  it;  and  I  know 
there  are  enough  that  wouhl  gladly  do  it.  O,  you  can't 
tell  how  much  good  your  prayer  did  us  this  morning.  I 
do  feel  a  daily  necessity  of  looking  to  God  to  keep  us.  I 
want  to  make  a  recpicst  of  you  to  remember  us  at  God's 
throne,  for  we  know  not  what  a  dav  nuiv  brint^  forth.  Do 
plead  for  us  in  prayer,  my  sister.'*  I  left  her  and  her 
daughters  bathed  in  tears.  AVe  the  took  steamer  Nhajdvn 
for  New  Orleans,  April  2d.  It  being  dark,  the  captain  con- 
cluded to  wait  till  mooidight,  when  an  order  came  to  go  u[) 
the  river,  near  Port  Hudson,  for  twenty  soldiers  and  thirty 
thousand  dollars  in  contraband  goods  with  two  men  prison- 
ers, who  had  been  in  charge  of  these  goods  for  the  rebels. 
"While  they  were  loading  the  goods  sister  Backus  and  myself 
A  took  a  long  walk  to  the  residence  of  John  Buhler,  aged 
seventy-five  years,  who  lost  a  few  weeks  before  one  hundred 
and  thirty  slaves.  The  old  man  and  his  wife  took  us  into 
their  flower-garden,  where  were  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  varieties  of  roses  and  manv  kinds  of  shrubbcrv,  and  the 
greatest  variety  of  cactus  I  ever  saw;  many  of  them  were 
six  and  eight  feet  high.  One  large  pecan-tree  was  almost 
covered  with  a  small  A'ellow  rose-climber  in  full  bloom, 
presenting  a  beautiful  appc^arance.  They  gatiiered  nearly 
an  armful  of  flowers  for  us,  and  took  us  into  the  room  in 
which  a  bursting  shell  made  sad  havoc.  They  made  many 
excuses  for  the  weedy  flower-beds  in  the  yard  and  garden, 
as  they  now  had  no  servants  to  keep  them.  Two  drunken 
women  came  aboard  the  boat  and  were  put  ofl'  by  our 
captain,  but  through  the  influence  of  their  friends  came  on 
aiiaiu.     We  turned  from  this  scene,  and  took  a  stroll  to 


!-*7 


wrw 


■  ;■ 


U 


1  r  I 


-  "\ 


S  I 


m 


1;} 


;-   ■ 


:|    "   .      ■ 

1 

'^'k      ^ 

1 

\¥\  ■ 

1 

< 

'  i. 

1    ' 


318 


A  woman's  ijfk-work. 


another  residence,  where  we  found  the  former  slaves  of  tho 
owner  the  sole  oc('uj)ants.  They  had  a  hearty  laugh  when 
I  asked  if  the  " sniok(>-house  key  was  frowed  in  dc  well?" 
"Yes,  yes,  missus,"  they  answered;  "  we's  got  de  inunagiu'." 

We  returned  to  Baton  Kouge  (the  plaec  where  we 
halted  some  time  is  called  West  Baton  Rouge),  arriving 
late  in  the  afternoon.  We  walked  uj)  to  our  old  boarding- 
place,  and  took  supper  with  our  dear  friends. 

On  April  3d  we  arrived  at  New  Orleans  at  nine  A.  jNI., 
in  time  to  attend  a  colored  Sunday-school.  At  its  close  I 
gave  them  a  little  talk.  From  thence  we  were  piloted  to 
the  Bethel  Methodist  Church  (colored)  and  found  a  quar- 
terly meeting  being  held.  Here  we  listened  to  a  very 
interesting  and  intelligent  discourse  by  Rev.  William  Dove. 
I  made  a  few  renuirks  on  the  comparison  of  })resent  times 
with  the  former.  At  the  close  of  the  service  numy  came 
forward  to  shake  hands  and  tell  us  of  the  time  when  min- 
isters and  people  were  hauled  out  of  this  church  of  their 
own  building  and  taken  to  jail.  The  free  i)eople  were 
compelled  to  pay  twenty-five  dollars'  fine,  and  slaves  were 
punished  with  twenty-five  lashes  on  the  bare  back,  well 
laid  (m.  This  persecution  the  authorities  deemed  neces- 
sary in  order  to  keep  these  poor  peo[)le  from  rising  in 
insurrection.  They  locked  up  their  churches  two  years 
and  a  half,  until  the  Union  soldiers  unlocked  them. 
Though  the  authorities  forbade  their  meeting  at  all,  they 
often  stole  away  two  and  three  miles  and  held  little  meet- 
ings in  deep  ravines  and  in  clumps  of  bushes  and  trees,  to 
]\ide  from  their  cruel  pursuers ;  but  they  could  not  even 
there  long  escape  their  vigilant  enemies.  ^'Insurrection! 
Insurrection  !"  was  constantly  inflaming  the  guilty  mul- 
titude. Imprisoning,  putting  into  stocks,  and  all  sorts  of 
punishments  seemed  to  l)e  the  order  of  the  day. 

A  few  months  after  the  closing  of  their  church  the 
spotted  fever  broke  out,  slaying  its  thousands.  An  old 
pious  colored  woman  said  to  one  who  was  losing  all  his 


SPOTTKD   Fi:VKR. 


319 


' 


family,  and  called  upon  her  to  assist  them:  "Now,  who  is 
plottin;,^  insurrection  !*  Who  you  gwine  to  hike  to  jail  now? 
AViu)  you  gwine.  to  whip  an'  hang  now  ?  You  can'i  tai<o 
God  out  to  jail."  They  heard  that  their  enemies  had  con- 
cluded to  stop  their  praying,  lb»-  it  was  thought  to  he 
through  the  prayers  of  the  colored  ])co])le  that  all  this 
trouhle  was  sent  upon  them;  for  the  jilague  was  almost 
entirely  confined  to  the  white  people.  This  class  of  accus- 
ers  hecamc  even  more  hitter  than  hefore. 

No  one  can  look  at  this  volume  of  history  without  call- 
ing to  mind  the  hardness  of  heart  of  the  ancient  Egyj)- 
tiaiis. 


w 


♦!  i* 


•  (  1  * 


4il 


f. 


lir 


!  / 


I  :l 


1* 


i-U 


m 


i 


li 


.  i 


i     1 


-4    .I       •■ 

% 

i 

i-y        1 

i 

k'  1  . 

u._ 

it) 


320 


A  WOMAN  S   LIFE-WOllK. 


Chapter  XII. 

MISSION  WORK  IN  NEW  ORLEANS. 

At  New  Orleans,  where  we  arrived  April  0,  1804,  our 
home  was  a  very  i)leasuiit  one.  B(nieath  the  windows  of 
our  room  was  a  grove  of  fig-trees.  We  had  the  kindest 
of  friends. 

We  visited  ten  colored  schools  in  the  city,  filled  with 
eager  learners.  One  was  taught  by  Mrs.  Brice,  who  had 
in  charge  sixty  scholars.  She  had  been  teaching  here  three 
years,  under  much  jjcrsecution,  and  stemmed  the  torrent 
of  opposition,  sometimes  in  secret,  before  the  war.  Sister 
Brice  and  her  husband  had  been  struggling  in  this  city 
nearly  five  years,  through  this  bitter  hate  to  the  North, 
contending  for  Unionism  everywhere,  througli  civil,  relig- 
ions, and  political  life.  AVc  called  on  them,  and  spent  two 
hours  in  eating  oranges  and  listening  to  the  fanaticisms 
and  wild  conceptions  of  this  misguided  peoj)le  and  terror- 
stricken  multitude  when  the  "  Yankee"  soldiers  marched 
up  the  streets  from  the  gun-boats.  Schools  were  dismissed ; 
the  children  cried  as  they  ran  home,  telling  those  they  met 
that  the  Yankees  had  come  to  kill  them  and  their  mothers. 
But  there  were  those  who  cried  for  joy  at  the  sight  of  the 
national  flag.  The  starting  tear  manifested  the  deep  feel- 
ing of  these  friends  as  they  attempted  to  relate  the  scene, 
but  said  it  was  impossible,  as  it  was  beyond  description. 
It  seemed  like  an  oasis  in  a  desert  to  meet  such  kindred 
Bi)irits.  We  left  them,  with  their  urgent  request  to  make 
another  call  before  we  left  the  city. 

AVe  were  invited  by  the  pastor  to  attend  a  love-feast 
meeting  at  half-past  six  o'clock,  P.  M.,  where  we  met  a 
large  congregation.     The  services  were  opened  as  usual. 


r()I/)RRI>    rX)V K-FF,AST. 


'.Vli 


id 


Soon  they  were  "  hrcakiiig  hrcjid  "  with  cacli  other,  sliak- 
iug  hands,  and  sniging.  Many  were  weejmig.  Home  hroko 
to  each  other  the  broad,  exchiiniing,  "  Praise  God  for  tlii.s 
day  of  liberty  to  worship  (Jod!"  One  ohi  man  said  to  one 
of  the  ministers,  as  he  phiced  his  hand  on  liis  siiouMcr: 
"Bless  God,  my  sou,  we  don't  have  to  keep  wateh  at  tliat 
door,"  pointing  to  it,  "  to  tell  us  the  patrolKrs  are  coming 
to  take  us  to  jail  and  fine  us  twenty-five  dollars  for  prayin' 
and  talkin'  of  the  love  of  Jesus.  O  no,  we  's  fri:i:!  Yes, 
thank  God  for  freedom!"  Clai)ping  his  hands,  his  shouts 
of  "Glory,  glory,  hallelujah!"  were  followed  by  others, 
until  "Glory,  hallelujah  to  the  Lamb  forever!"  was  heard 
from  many  voices.  Men  clasped  the  necks  of  their  breth- 
ren, and  shook  hands  with  the  sisters,  singing,  weeping, 
shouting,  jumping,  and  whirling.  Said  one  woman,  as  siic 
clasped  another,  "O  sister,  don't  you  'meml)er  when  da  tuck 
us  over  iu  dat  jail  dat  night,  an'  said  da  would  whip  us 
if  we  did  n't  stop  j)rayin'?"  and  then  they  both  jumped  and 
shouted,  throwing  up  their  hands  in  wild  excitement.  A 
half-hour  was  spent  iu  these  outbursts  of  long  pent-up  feel- 
ings ;  then  they  settled  d<nvn  into  conn)arative  quiet,  and 
the  pastor  exhorted  them  to  be  brief  in  their  remarks. 
Perhaps  an  hour  was  spent  in  the  relatiou  of  exiwrieuces, 
and  the  meeting  closed  with  singing: 

"The  jubilee  lias  come; 
And  we  are  free,  we  arc  free." 

Then  there  was  again  the  shaking  of  hands,  and  an- 
other half-hour  was  spent  in  overflowing  manifestations,  as 
at  the  o})ening  of  their  meeting.  This  long-oppressed  peo- 
])le  realized  their  great  change  beyond  our  conceptions. 

At  the  Christian  Commission  rooms.  No.  (li)  Carondelet 
Street,  Dr.  F.  B.  Sinith,  agent,  we  met  brother  Merrilicld, 
of  Baton  Rouge,  and  brother  Horton,  who  took  us  to  visit 
a  school  of  sixty  pupils,  taught  by  two  colored  men,  Ba})- 
tist  ministers.  They  had  opened  it  before  the  govermiient 
or  missionaries  o^Kiued  a  school  iu  this  city  for  coloixid 


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322 


A    WDNfAN  S    IJFK-WOItK. 


cliildron.  Wo  luul  vi.sitcd  and  uddrct^scd  a  iimul)cr  of 
other  w'hoolii  unioiig  these  iieople  of  tlii.s  city,  one  of  which 
iiunihercd  over  four  Imndrcd  hchohirs,  in  a  confiscated  col- 
lege; but  tliia  in  interest  surpassed  them  aU.  Here  in  an 
old  islyve-pcii,  »vhere  hundreds  and  thousands  had  hecn 
cried  off  to  the  highest  bidder,  where  the  erics  of  i)arting 
mother  and  child  had.  been  heard  and  unheeded,  where  the 
])IeadingH  of  husl)ands  and  i'athers  were  only  answered  ' 
the  lash,  those  many  tears,  sighs,  and  groans  were  exchang 
for  intellectual  culture  and  religious  instruction.  Hero 
"were  sundry  Union  flags  waving,  and  a  large  portrait  of 
Abraham  Lincoln  hung  on  the  wall  behiud  the  desk.  Tho 
scene  was  inspiring. 

After  returning,  two  colored  women,  genteelly  dressed, 
and  quite  intelligent,  called  on  us  and  gave  us  a  thrilling 
history  of  the  })ast.  They  gave  us  some  startling  facts  of 
tho  efforts  made  to  return  slaves,  who  had  come  within  our 
lines  to  their  masters,  by  making  friends 'of  our  ofKcers 
and  soldiers.  ^len  ha<l  enlisted  from  this  State  (Louisiana) 
and  Mississippi  as  Union  soldiers  from  selfish  motive? 
Their  solo  object  was  to  assist  in  getting  their  slaves  ba( 
by  taking  them  out  of  houses  when  employed  by  colored 
people,  and  from  the  street  whcu  sent  to  market,  and 
j)laeing  them  in  jail.  After  onlers  were  passed  to  give 
rations  to  the  families  of  colored  soldiers,  one  young  girl, 
Avhose  name  was  lihoda,  was  doing  well  until  she  was  over- 
taken with  chills.  Her  brother  gave  her  a  paper  certifvirg 
he  was  a  soldier,  and  requested  rations  for  her,  but  she  was 
arrested  on  the  street,  and  lodged  in  jail,  where  she  re- 
mained three  months,  sick  with  chills  and  fever,  and  with- 
out change  of  clothing,  although  her  female  friends  made 
many  efforts  to  get  food  and  clothing  to  her.  At  length 
a  deliverer  came,  who  found  three  hundred  miserable,  ver- 
min-eaten j)risoners,  and  set  them  free.  A  more  grateful 
company  was  uever  found.  Find  fault  who  will  with  Ben- 
jamin F.  Butler,  this  was  just  the  work  he  did ;  and  many 


\ 


A    WICKKI)    I'LOT. 


323 


1-1, 


as 


1- 
e 


I 


3 


a- 


lives  wore  saved,  ami    nuich  siifl'crinj,'  relieved,  under  liis 
adiiiiiiistration. 

We  (lined  with  a  widow  who  had  paid  SI, 800  fur  her- 
self, and  lived  in  good  style  by  boarding  her  friend.s,  Avho 
paid  her  extra  board-bills  to  assist  hir.  A  Cri'ole  lady 
ealled  to  see  us  who  could  eonversn  a  lilllc  in  English. 
The  Creoles  in  New  Orleans  generally  sjjoke  Freneh.  This 
nuidanie  was  a  woman  of  wealth  and  position,  and  well 
pleased  with  the  freedom  of  the  slave. 

Wc  heard  of  a  project  devised  by  many  masters  to 
massacre  all  the  blacks.  One  brought  in  three  hogsheads 
marked  sugar.  A  little  slave  girl,  hearing  her  master  say 
at  dinner-table,  that  he  had  one  filled  with  loaded  pistols, 
another  with  dirks,  and  llie  third  with  l)owie-knives,  went 
and  told  her  mother.  .She  was  directed  to  be  carel'id  and 
listen,  while  busy  about  the  room,  to  all  her  nm.'^ter  said, 
and  report  to  her.  In  this  way  she  heard  the  plans  that 
her  master  and  his  friends  d  signed  to  carry  into  execu- 
tion, and  informed  her  mother.  The  plan  was  to  paint  a 
large  comi)any  of  their  men  black,  who  should  assmne  the 
attitude  of  fight;  then  all  were  to  cry  out  '^  luj^urfrctiun ! 
iNsuRuix TiON !"  and  fly  to  every  negro  man,  wonuui,  and 
child,  and  kill  them  all  off.  The  mother  made  an  errand 
down  town  with  her  little  girl,  and  called  on  General  But- 
ler, to  whom  they  told  all.  A  [)arty  of  officers  and  sol- 
diers were  dispatched  at  once,  who  visited  that  bouse,  de- 
manded the  keys,  and  searched  the  premises.  There  they 
found  the  hogsheads,  broke  in  the  bead  of  each,  and  found 
all  as  reiwrted.  The  master  was  banished  from  the  city, 
his  family  sent  outside  the  lines,  his  property  confiscated, 
and  his  slaves  set  free.  No  wonder  they  disliked  General 
Butler,  when  he  defeated  their  base  designs. 

The  convention  which  met  in  the  City  Hall  to  frame 
a  free  constitution  for  Louisiana  created  considerable  ex- 
citement. Many  slave-owners  were  confident  they  would 
have  all  their  slaves  back  again,  or  get  pay  for  them. 


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324 


A    woman's    LIFE-WOllK. 


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As  there  were  no  siinitary  agents  at  Brazier  City,  and 
we  learned  of  much  siifilring  tliere,  we  called  at  the  Chris- 
tian Commission  Ilooms  to  make  further  inquiries,  and 
found  brother  Diossy  had  just  sent  both  an  agent  and  a 
teacher  to  that  point.  "  But  if  you  are  hunting  for  desti- 
tute places,"  he  told  us,  "  I  wish  you  would  go  to  Ship 
Island,  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  as  there  are  soldiers  and 
many  pristjners  there,  and  they  have  no  chaplain  or  agent 
to  look  after  their  sanitary  condition."  While  I  was  in- 
clined to  go,  sister  Backus  thought,  in  view  of  the  very 
warm  weather,  and  ))ccause  we  were  so  nearly  worn  out 
with  several  nionths'  constant  toiling,  we  had  better  turn 
our  faces  homeward.  I  knew  there  was  but  little  more 
than  shadows  left  of  us,  yet  I  could  not  rid  myself  of  the 
impression  that  it  would  be  right  to  go;  but  I  told  her  I 
would  not  draft  her  into  service,  or  persuade  her  against 
her  judgment. 

I  met  at  these  rooms  brother  Mcrrifield  and  brother 
Ilorton,  and  the  chaplain  of  the  Michigan  6th  Infantry. 
By  their  request  we  attended  a  s<ddiers'  praycr-nioeting. 
Near  the  close  one  soldier  expressed  his  gratitude  for  tlic 
j)rivilege  of  listening  to  the  voice  of  mothers  in  counsels 
that  reminded  many  of  them  of  their  own  mothers  far 
away.  He  could  say  no  more  for  a  moment,  being'  over- 
come wltli  emotion.  **  You  may  call  me  weak,  and  if  this 
be  weakness,  then  I  am  weak,"  he  said.  Another  requested 
prayer  for  his  sick  soldier  brother,  and  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  tlie  Northern  ladies  who  were  laboring  for  them. 

After  this  meeting  I  called  at  the  office  for  transporta- 
tion ;  but  there  was  no  cnoounigement  tliat  I  could  get 
it  for  a  number  of  days,  })erhaps  two  we(>ks,  as  General 
Banks  had  nearly  all  the  boats  up  Rod  River,  in  his  fleet. 
But  as  I  was  passing  the  gulf  office  I  called  and  found  the 
steamer  Clyde  going  out  for  Shin  Island  In  four  hours, 
and  at  once  secured  transportation  for  us  both.  I  returned 
to  our  boardiug-house,  aud  reiwrted  what  I  had  done,  aud 


■ 


ON   SHIP    ISLAND. 


325 


told  sister  Biu'kus  if  she  was  willing  to  go  the  soa-brecze 
iiiight  do  more  to  rest  us  than  the  labors  would  add  to  our 
weariness.     She  consented  to  accompany  me,  and  we  pro- 
vided ourselves  with  halt*  a  bushel  of  reading  matter  at 
Christian   Commission    llooms,  and  secured   the  aid  of  a 
couple  of  soldiers  to  carry  our  books  to  the  street-car,  from 
thence   to  a  steam-car  that  lauded  us  at  the  Clyde.     As 
there  was  no  berth  for  us  we  obtained  a  cou[)le  of  blankets, 
but  there  being  room  for  only  one  to  lie  down,  we  man- 
aged, by  taking  turns,  to  get  considerable  sleep.     On  April 
8th,  at  ten  A.  INI.,  we  lauded  ou  Ship  Island.     It  was  of 
white  sand,  that  resembled,  at  a  distance,  a  huge  snow- 
bank.    We  found  a  little  sprinkle  of  brown  sand,   upon 
which  grew  a  few  scrubby  trees   aud  a  s})ec'  s  of  cactus 
that  spread  out  in  clusters  as  large  as  a  dinner-plate.     The 
island    is  eight  miles  in   length,   and   from   one-fourth    to 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  wide.    The  captain  told  us  he  should 
not  leave  until  four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  and  we  made  use  of 
our  time  accordingly.     When  we   landed   with   our  large 
market-basket  heaping  full  of  Testaments  and  other  read- 
ing matter,  the  gunboat  boys  and  prisoners  gathered  around 
xiri  like  hungry  children.     Prisoners  in  irons  came  holding 
the  iron  ball  in  one  arm,  while  the  otlier  hand  reached  for 
a  Testament,  crying  out,  "Please  give  me  a  Testament,  I 
lost  mine  in  battle;"  "Please  give  me  one,  I  lost  mine  in  a 
long  march;"  "Please  give  me  something  to  read,  I  lost 
my  Testament  in  a  rain-storm."    Many  hands  were  reached 
over  the  shoulders  of  others,  until  thirty  or  forty  hands  at 
a  time  were  extended.     We  soon   exliausted   our   baskct- 
gupply.     We  had  a  few  in  our  satchels,  but  we  reserved 
them  for  the  hospital  and  military  })rison.     As  we  had  <lis- 
posed  of  the  most  of  our  books  in  an  hour,  we   P|)ent  an 
hour  on   the  beach  gathering  sea-shells   until   noon,  then 
took  our  rations,  and  sjKMit  the  renuiinder  of  our  time  in 
hospital-visiting,  and  in  learning  from  the  officers  what  was 
needed  to  Im  sent  on  our  return  to  New  Orleans. 


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326 


A  woman's  life-work. 


While  engaged  in  otlier  matters,  we  found  our  boat  had 
left  us,  and  was  steaming  away  poriiaps  a  mile  from  us. 
Sister  Backus  was  greatly  disappointed  at  being  left,  and 
gave  way  to  des])oudeucy ;  but  I  assured  her  it  was  all  for 
the  best,  and  that  as  the  Lord  had  heretofore  provided  for 
us,  so  he  would  provide  for  us  now.  We  returned  to  the 
tent  of  Mrs.  Green,  a  tidy  mulatto  woman,  where  we  had 
left  our  satchels.  As  she  met  us  and  learned  of  our  being 
left,  and  heard  sister  Backus  lament  over  "not  having 
where  to  lay  our  heads,"  she  quickly  replied:  "Yes,  you 
shall  have  a  j)lace  for  your  heads.  In  that  chest  I  have 
plenty  of  bedding,  and  I  '11  dress  up  this  bed  for  you  two. 
My  husband  can  find  a  place  with  some  of  his  comrades, 
and  I  '11  make  a  bed  for  myself  on  the  floor  till  the  boat 
comes  back."  "There,  sister  Backus,"  I  said,  "the  Lord 
is  providing  for  us  already."  Tears  filled  her  eyes.  She 
replied,  "I  will  not  doubt  any  more." 

Mrs.  Green  had  a  nice  dinner  prepared  in  the  best 
style;  table-linen  of  the  finest  damask,  chinaware  and  solid 
silver  spoons,  jiitchcr,  forks,  and  })lated  table  knives,  etc. 
I  inquired  how  this  came  about,  as  I  had  not  seen  a  table 
so  richly  set  since  coming  into  the  array.  Her  reply  was, 
that  both  of  their  fathers  were  wealthy  planters,  who  made 
them  free  when  they  died.  Her  husband  received  by  will 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  and  she  also  received  from 
her  father's  estate  a  fine*  br"jk  residence.  They  had  it 
nicely  furnished,  and  their  projx^rty  was  valued  at  fifty 
thousand  dollars.  Her  husband  was  making  in  his  busi- 
ness f-oni  seventy-five  to  one  hundred  dollars  a  month,  but 
he  Avas  so  confident  that  this  war  would  result  in  the  free- 
dom of  their  race  that  he,  with  others,  enlisted  in  a  col- 
ored regiment  for  seven  dollars  a  month,  under  the  rebel 
government,  with  a  secret  understanding  among  themselves 
tiiat  they  would  all  go  in  with  the  Union  army  as  soon  as 
opportunity  presented.  The  opportunity  was  furnished  oa 
the  taking  of  New  Orleans  by  Union  troops.    The  regiment 


FINDING    FRIKNDS. 


327 


■was  officered  by  men  of  tlieir  own  color,  Lut  the  iiulignities 
they  received  at  the  hands  of  Union  commanders  caused 
their  officers  to  resign  their  positions.  One  of  the  many 
was  on  one  occasion  of  an  order  by  one  of  their  captains 
for  shoes  and  bhmkets  for  his  destitute  men.  It  was  not 
honored,  and  he  went  in  jx'rson  to  inform  the  commander 
how  needy  his  men  were.  Tlie  reply  was  that  he  need  not 
expect  negro  regiments  to  be  supplied  the  same  as  white 
soldiers.  This  was  thrown  in  their  teeth  by  Confederates: 
**  You  see  what  you  get  by  going  over  to  the  Yankees. 
AVe  never  served  you  like  that,"  said  a  Confederate. 

We  found  Mr.  Green  an  intelligent  and  pleasant  man. 
Just  as  our  <liiuier  was  ready,  Captain  James  Noyce  called 
to  see  us,  and  urged  us  to  make  our  homo  with  his  family 
during  our  stay  on  the  island.  We  told  him  of  the  kind 
offer  of  ^[rs.  Green.  *'  I  know,"  was  his  reply,  "  that  ]\Irs. 
Green  has  the  nicest  things  of  any  one  on  this  island,  but 
my  wife  and  I  want  you  with  us,"  lie  said  he  should  call 
fjr  us  in  two  hours,  which  he  did;  and  wc  felt  that  our 
lots  were  cast  in  a  pleasant  place.  There  were  two  lieu- 
tenants boarding  with  them,  both  of  who.n,  with  the  cap- 
tain, appeared  like  men  of  sterling  principle. 

While  enjoying  a  very  pleasant  social  visit  with  our 
new  friends,  sister  Backus  espied  the  life  of  Orange  Scott 
on  their  center  table  (a  goods-box  with  a  newspaper  spread). 
In  surprise  she  exclaimed:  "Sister  Ilaviland,  here  is  the 
life  of  Orange  Scott  I  Isn't  this  home-like?  away  here  iu 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico!" 

"Do  you  know  any  thing  of  Orange  Scott?"  inquired 
our  hostess. 

"  I  guess  we  do.  We  know  all  about  him,"  replied 
sister  Backus. 

"  You  are  not  Wesleyan  jNIcthodists,  are  you?" 

"  Indeed  we  are,  both  of  us." 

She  almost  flew  at  us,  placing  her  hands  on  our  shoul- 
ders.    •*  I  do  u't  wonder  you  seemed  so  much  like  relatives. 


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328 


A  woman's  ijfe-wohk. 


Orange  Rcott,  is  my  father,  and  Mr.  Noyce  and  I  are  Wes- 
leyans,  "  and  she  laughed  and  cried  at  the  same  time.  The 
dear  little  homesick  woman  was  overjoyed.  She  had  heeu 
on  the  island  a  Icmg  time  with  her  husband,  and  in  poor 
health,  sick  and  tired  of  army  life,  and  longing  for  her 
Northern  home.  Yet  she  would  not  consent  to  leave  her 
husband  so  long  as  he  could  stay  in  one  place  a  sufficient 
time  for  her  to  be  with  him.  But  he  was  fearful  it  was 
impairing  her  health.  On  her  account,  as  well  as  our  own, 
we  were  thankful  for  the  privilege  of  mingling  with  kin- 
dred spirits.  The  two  lieutenants  who  boarded  with  them 
brought  in  their  new  mattresses  to  make  a  double  bed  for  the 
captain  and  his  wife,  as  they  gave  up  their  own  bed  to  U3 
during  our  stay.  This  left  the  lieutenants  to  sleep  on  the 
bare  tent  floor,  with  their  blankets  only.  But  we  did  uot 
know  of  this  arrangement  until  the  dav  we  left. 

April  9th  was  very  windy.  We  could  not  go  out  for 
the  drifting  sand,  without  being  thickly  veiled.  I  walked 
to  the  beach,  near  the  soldiers'  burying-ground,  and  stood 
two  hours  watching  the  waves  as  they  lashed  the  bars  of 
sand.  Their  briny  spray  bedewed  the  graves  of  soldiers, 
who  had  fallen  far  away  from  their  kindred  and  their 
loved  ones,  in  their  Northern  homes.  I  could  not  repress 
the  tear  of  sympathy  as  these  reflections  came  to  me,  and 
I  listened  to  the  solemn  moan  of  the  ocean.  Yet  here  is 
the  God  of  peace  and  love. 

"  lie  plants  his  footsteps  in  the  sea, 
And  rides  upon  the  storm." 

This  evening  we  listened  to  Lieutenant  Kingsley's  thril- 
ling description  of  the  cruel  irons  he  fded  ofl'  from  a  num- 
ber of  slaves,  who  were  too  intelligent  to  be  held  without 
S(>verc  measures.  lie  said  these  men  made  soldiers  who 
hesitated  not  to  brave  the  greatest  dangers.  His  experi- 
ence reminded  us  of  the  words  of  another: 

"Beware  the  time  when  that  cl.uin  shall  break, 
That  gulls  the  flush  uuJ  spirit ; 


t  I 


PRISONERS    IN    IRONS. 


329 


thril- 
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Ihout 
who 
Iperi- 


When  the  ycike  is  thrown  from  the  l)on(le(l  neck, 

That  in  chafed  too  much  to  ])eivr  it. 
There  's  a  God  ulx)ve,  that  looks  with  a  frown, 
To  see  how  long  you  have  trodden  him  down." 

In  distributing  the  remainder  of  our  tracts  and  Testa- 
ments to  prisoners  wo  met  a  nuinl)cr  of  very  intelligent 
men,  who  appeared  to  he  men  of  Christian  principles.  I 
always  made  it  a  j)<)int  to  say  nothing  to  a  prisoner  of  the 
particular  crime  that  placed  him  in  confinement,  hut  di- 
rected his  thoughts  to  the  Lord  Jesus,  the  lover  of  sinners. 
As  my  synipatliics  became  deeply  enlisted  in  behalf  of 
many  of  the  prisoners  in  irons,  I  incpiired  of  Captain  Noyce, 
in  whoso  charge  they  were,  what  crimes  these  soldiers  had 
committed,  that  they  should  be  confined  in  irons.  "  No 
crime,"  he  answered. 

"Then  please  tell  me,"  I  said,  "why  they  are  here?" 

"For  drunkenness,  l)eing  late  at  roll-call,  absence  with- 
out leave,  and  selling  government  property,  mostly  ex- 
changing rations  for  groceries,  such  as  sugar  and  tea." 

"Is  this  possible?"  I  exclaimed.  "All  these  trivial 
offenses  have  been  settled  in  their  own  regiments  wherever 
else  I  have  been." 

"80  they  have  wherever  I  have  been,  initil  I  came 
here.  But  you  seem  almost  to  disbelieve  my  word.  If 
you  do,  you  can  step  into  my  office  and  examine  the  record 
for  yourself  You  will  find  these  men  sentenced  from  one 
year  to  thirty-eight  for  the  offenses  I  have  named." 

"  I  have  no  reason  to  doubt  your  word,  but  T  will  thaidc 
you  for  the  privilege  of  examining  that  record.  Who  pro- 
nounced these  sentences?" 

"  Judge  Attocha." 

"Who  is  Judge  Attocha?" 

"He  was  a  rebel  captain,  but  after  Now  Orleans  fell 
into  our  hands  he  took  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  (rcneral 
Banks  promoted  him  by  giving  him  the  position  of  judge 
advocate." 

28 


. 


tin 

iii 


'(! 


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(' 


if   TtvjJ 


! 


i 

n-.  1 


i  ' 


IM 


♦1  i^  Hi 


i  ST"    L 


H' 


'r  , 
.  i 


t     I 


t-:f    1 


iiiiiS 


330 


A  woman's  life-work. 


"That  man  is  a  rebel  still,"  I  said.  "  He  is  doing  for 
the  rebel  cause  more  tlum  when  at  the  head  of  his  com- 
pany, in  the  rebel  ranks.  You  say  a  few  over  3,000  have 
passed  through  your  hands  here  and  on  the  Dry  Tortugas. 
We  read  in  the  pajKjr,  the  day  we  left  New  Orleans,  an 
opder  from  President  Lincoln  to  draft  men,  and  here  are 
tliree  whole  regiments  laid  upon  the  shelf.  Are  all  these 
Union  soldiers?" 

"  They  are  all  Union  soldiers.  We  had  a  Confederate 
here  for  murder,  sentenced  for  a  year.  He  was  here  only 
three  months,  when  he  was  pardoned ;  and  on  your  return 
to  New  Orleans  you  may  see  him  walking  the  streets  as 
independent  as  yourself" 

"This  is  a  flagrant  wrong  in  holding  these  3,000  men. 
Why  don't  you  report  Judge  Attocha?" 

"He  outranks  me,  and  should  I  presume  to  do  it  I 
would  be  put  into  a  dungeon  myself,  and  probably  die 
there  without  an  investigation." 

Sister  Backus  and  I  went  into  the  office,  and  the  cap- 
tain brought  us  a  great  roll,  as  large  around  as  a  man's 
hat.  I  unrolled  a  few  feet,  and  read  the  name,  regiment, 
company,  ofleusc,  and  penalty  of  each  man,  thus:  For 
drunkenness,  fifteen  years  hard  labor  Avith  ball  and  chain, 
and  all  wages  forfeited,  except  three  dollars  a  month;  for 
selling  government  property,  eight  years  hard  labor,  with 
ball  and  chain,  and  all  wages  forfeited  except  three  dollars 
a  month.  Some  prisoners  were  sentenced  to  longer,  others 
to  shorter,  terms;  but  upon  all  were  imposed  the  same  for- 
feitures, and  all  were  put  in  irons.  One  man  from  near 
Battle  Creek,  Micliigan,  was  sentenced  for  life.  His  offense 
was  simply  "suspicious  character."  No  other  reason  for 
his  sentence  was  given.  I  handed  this  fearful  record  to 
sister  Backus,  and  we  both  read  with  heavy  hearts.  Every 
free  State  was  represented.  What  can  we  do,  we  asked 
ourselves,  for  these  poor  men,  some  of  whom  are  sick  and 
dying  with  scurvy  ?     This  was  a  query  hard  to  answer.     I 


I  Ii 


VISITING    THE   PRISONERS. 


331 


retired  to  bed,  but  not  to  sleep,  wrestling  in  prayer  to  Him 
who  hears  the  siglis  of  the  prisoner  to  lead  me  to  a  door 
that  would  open  for  the  3,000  men  in  irons.  The  captain 
■was  a  kind-hearted  man,  and  told  rae  that  he  had  in  many 
cases  put  the  irons  on  so  loosely  that  they  could  relieve 
themselves  when  out  of  his  sight,  but  he  charged  them  to  be 
careful  not  to  allow  hiih  to  see  them  off.  On  account  of 
the  injustice  of  their  sentences,  he  had  iavered  them  wher- 
ever he  could  do  so,  and  keep  his  own  record  clear. 
_  The  next  day,  April  10th,  was  Sunday.  The  morning^ 
was  clear  and  beautiful.     Sister  Backus  said: 

"  You  arc  sick,  or  very  weary;  for  you  groaned  in  your] 
)  sleep  so  much  last  night." 

"I  am  not  conscious  of  having  groaned,"  I  said;  "  but 
I  did  not  sleej)  a  wink.  I  am  distressed,  and  have  spent 
the  night  in  prayer  for  a  guiding  hand  to  oj)en  a  door  of 
relief  for  these  prisoners,  and  I  nmst  see  them  before  I 
leave  this  island.  I  am  this  morning  Iwaring  as  heavy  a 
lieart  as  at  any  j)eriod  of  this  deadly  strife." 

"  Try  and  dismiss  this  subject  if  i>ossil)le,"  she  returned, 
"as  they  have  appointed  a  meeting  for  us  in  the  regiment, 
and  I  presiime  there  will  be  an  opi)ortunity  for  you  to  sco 
the  prisoners." 

As  best  I  could,  I  dismissed  the  all-absorbing  theme; 
and  according  to  previous  arrangement  we  met  the  regi- 
ment, with  a  few  gun-boat  soldiers  and  the  oflicers.  Wo 
enjoyed  a  favored  seascm,  and  found  a  liberty  of  spirit  our 
dear  Redeemer  only  can  give.  After  closing  the  servicea 
to  the  peace  of  my  own  mind,  and  to  the  apparent  satis- 
faction of  the  large  congregation,  Captain  James  X()y(!o 
came  to  me  and  said : 

"  You  are  certainly  too  weary  to  visit  the  prisoners 
now." 

"  0  no,"  was  my  reply,  **  if  you  will  allow  me  that 
privilege." 

"They  arc  in  very  large  barracks,  and  it  is  a  ,very  un- 


if 


ti  4 


ml 


I';- 


I ' 


t       i 


1 


:rl  .      I 


I  ! 


r  ! 

i,  : 

I 

i 
1 

.1 

;: 


n32 


A    WOMAN  S    T.rFK-WOIlK. 


pleasant  place  for  a  lady  to  visit;  but  if  it  is  your  wish, 
these  gun-hoat  ofHecrs  wanted  me  to  ask  you  if  you  had 
any  objections  to  their  i^o'uv^." 

"  Not  at  all ;  all  can  go  who  wish." 

Captain  Noyce  and  wife  took  us  to  the  barracks,  where 
^  the  prisoners  were  arranged  in  rows,  six  men  deep,  on  both 

sides  and  at  the  end,  leaving  an  aisle  three  feet  in  width 
between.  In  every  berth  there  was  a  man  in  a  horizontal 
position;  and  all  were  in  irons,  either  in  handcuffs  with 
chain,  or  in  a  clog  for  the  ankle,  to  which  was  attached  the 
chain  and  ball.  What  a  scene!  The  click  of  the  irons  at 
the  least  move  greeted  our  ears.  We  walked  midway  of 
the  long  aisle,  and  looked  over  the  sad  faces  before  us. 
Upon  the  necks  of  those  who  stood  near  vermin  were  to 
be  seen.  Filthy  and  ragged  were  many  of  these  [wor 
boys.  Some  had  been  there  a  year,  without  change  of 
raiment.  I  could  say  nothing  of  the  injustice  of  their 
punishment;  but  I  exhorted  them  to  come  forth  from  this 
furnace  of  aflliction  with  higher,  nobler,  and  holier  aspira- 
tions than  ever  before,  and  to  lift  \i\y  their  heads  in  hoj)e 
of  better  days,  altliough  the  heavens  might  then  seem  as 
brass  and  the  earth  as  bars  of  iron.  I  spoke  a  few  min- 
utes, and  as  I  closed  my  remarks  I  turned  to  sister  Backus, 
standing  by,  and  asked  her  to  say  a  few  words  of  encour- 
agement, but  slie  declined.  She  said  that  all  she  could  do 
Avas  to  weep  with  those  who  wept.  I  knelt  to  pour  out 
the  overflowings  of  a  full  heart  in  prayer,  and  as  I  did  so 
they  all  knelt  with  me,  amid  the  clank  and  clatter  of  irons 
that  made  it  necessary  to  wait  a  moment  to  be  heard. 

As  we  were  leaving,  two  prisoners  atlvanced  a  few  steps 
toward  us  an<l  said,  '*  In  behalf  of  our  fellow-prisoners,  we 
return  to  you  our  thanks  for  the  kind  words  which  you 
have  spoken  to  us,  and  pray  God  to  restore  you  safe  to 
your  Northern  homes."  We  bade  them  adieu,  with  many 
tearri.  After  leaving  this  i)lace  we  visited  other  quarters 
equally  large,  with  similar  experiences. 


IN   A   now- BOAT. 


333 


any 
•ters 


I  had  become  very  much  interested  in  a  number  with 
whom  I  conversed,  who  were  very  thankful  for  the  Testa- 
ments we  gave  them.  They  gave  evidence  of  jios.sessing 
an  earnest  trust  in  God  and  of  enjoying  the  cleansing 
power  of  the  blood  of  his  dear  Son. 

Accompanied  by  the  captain  and  his  wife,  on  Monday 
we  visited  the  light-house,  and  ascended  the  flight  of  steps 
of  sixtv-four  feet.  The  weather  was  clear  and  calm,  and 
Ave  had  a  fnie  view  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  on  one  side  and 
the  grand  expanse  of  the  ocean  on  the  other.  After  din- 
ner with  the  same  party,  accompanied  by  Lieutenant 
Kingsloy,  we  took  a  ten-oar  row-boat  and  went  to  see  the 
burial-ground  of  four  hundred  deceased  soldiers.  The 
graves  were  all  jHainly  marked  with  head-boards.  These 
soldiers  were  mostly  from  Maine  and  New  York,  with  a 
few  from  New  Jersey,  Wisconsin,  and  Michigan.  Tiiia 
was  another  solemn  place  for  reflection.  The  soldiers' 
grave-yard  on  this  island  differs  somewhat  from  all  others. 
Here  their  funeral  dirge  will  never  cease ;  the  requiem  of 
the  ocean's  surge  will  ever  sound  as  if  saying,  "Sleep  on 
undisturbed  until  the  last  trump  sliall  wake  the  nations 
of  the  dead !" 

We  returned  to  our  boat,  and  pursued  our  way  to  the 
extremity  of  tlie  island.  Here  the  picket -guards  were 
much  pleased  to  see  us.  They  had  been  on  the  island 
about  two  vcars,  ever  since  it  was  taken  fnjm  the  Confed- 
erates.  We  gathered  a  basket  of  shells,  and  our  men 
gathered  a  quantity  of  crai)s  for  breakfast.  We  were  pre- 
sented with  some  beautiful  shells  by  one  of  the  pickets. 
We  returned  home,  having  had  a  ton  miles'  ride.  We 
passed  the  wreck  of  a  ship  burned  many  years  ago,  which 
gave  this  island  its  name.  We  could  dearly  see  its  ciiarred 
cabin  twenty  or  thirty  feet  below  tlie  surface.  So  dear 
was  the  water  it  did  not  .seem  more  than  eigiit  or  ten  feet 
deep  over  the  white  sand,  upon  which  beautiful  shdl-iish 
were  crawling,  as  if  to  l)euutify  the  grand  scene  so  new  to  us. 


it 
u 


I,  ' 

,1  H) 


'  v' 


Hi  -"r 


I: 
4^ 


f 

I 


'■f»-'- 


hi 


J! 


:f   •■ 


i 


I     !■ 


i  . 


331 


V.' 


A    WOMAN  8    LIFE-WOUK. 


In  a  long  conversation  with  Lieutenant  Kingsley  con- 
corning  his  religious  exi)erienoe,  ho  said  he  was  not  satis- 
fied with  his  attainments  in  the  divine  life,  and  very  earn- 
estly requested  to  l)c  remembered  at  a  throne  of  grace. 
The  moon  rose  full  and  clear  on  the  s])arkling  face  of  the 
deep,  reminding  us  of  David's  sublime  thoughts  when  ho 
exclaims  in  the  eighth  Psalm:  "When  I  consider  thy 
heavens,  the  work  of  thy  fingers,  the  moon  and  the  stars, 
which  thou  hast  ordained;  what  is  man,  that  thou  art 
mindful  of  him?  and  tlic  son  of  man,  that  thou  visitest 
him?  For  thou  hast  made  him  a  little  lower  than  the  an- 
gels, and  hast  crowned  him  with  glory  and  honor." 

After  our  rcturu  we  enjoyed  a  season  of  prayer,  in 
which  Lieutenant  Kingsley  was  earnestly  remembered,  and 
he  exj)ressed  himself  greatly  eucouraged.  Leaving  all  those 
burdened  souls  with  the  Lord  Jesus,  who  cares  for  all  that 
he  has  redeemed  with  his  owu  precious  blood,  I  retired 
to  rest. 

The  next  day  one  of  the  prisoners  came  to  inform  me 
tliat  their  keeper  had  granted  them  the  privilege  of  asking 
me  if  I  would  take  a  petition  from  them  to  General  Weit- 
zel,  former  commander  of  seventy  of  their  numlxn*.  They 
had  heard  he  was  then  in  New  Orleans,  and  they  thought 
if  he  could  do  any  thing  for  their  release  he  would,  as  he 
was  a  very  kind  officer.  I  cordially  assented  to  his  request, 
of  coJirsc,  and  he  thanked  me  with  tears.  In  company 
with  the  captain  and  wife  we  visited  the  gigantic  fort  that 
had  been  two  years  in  Imilding,  but  was  not  yet  completed. 
It  was  to  cost  two  million  dollars.  The  brick  wall  at  the 
base  is  six  feet  thick,  and  about  two  huudred  and  fifty  men 
were  employed  on  it  when  we  were  there.  It  is  constructed 
to  mount  forty  cannons. 

At  supper  I  received  a  request  from  Lieutenant  Fos- 
ter, who  was  sick,  to  visit  him.  I  found  him  in  low 
spirits.  He  wished  me  to  write  a  re<piest  to  his  wife  to 
comu  to  him,  which  I  did.     I  read  to  him  some  extracts 


i-.i 


'    it 


THK  PUisoNEUs'  rprriTiox. 


335 


IS  he 
|uest, 
[)any 
that 
sted. 
the 
Imeu 
icted 

Ifos- 
low 
le  to 
L-ucts 


from  nil  oxcollont  littlo  work,  "Tho  Soldier's  Armor,"  and 
u  ('lm]>tt'r  in  the  l)o.st  of  all  books,  closing'  uitli  prayer. 
Lieutenant  Foster  scorned  a  d(>vont  (Christian  man,  and 
expressed  great  satisfaction  with  tins  interview.  The  cap- 
tain smiled  ou  my  retnrn,  saying  I  had  "  better  remain 
with  them  and  l)e  their  chaplain." 

On  April  13th  we  made  a  few  calls,  and  two  of  the 
goldiors'  wives  came  for  us  to  dine  with  tliem.  I  made  a 
copy  of  the  record  of  the  soldier  prisoners,  lus  a  specimen 
of  their  alleged  crimes,  and  the  penalties  imposed  U[K)Ii 
them.  One  of  the  i)risoners  brought  me  their  i)etition, 
which  reads  as  follows: 

"Snip  Island,  April  12,  ISfU. 

"MA.ion-OKNERAi,  Wkmv.ki,:  »SVr,— We  whose  i\aiiies  are 
afRxed,  prisoners  on  Ship  Islan*!,  ri'si»eetfnlly  beg  our  release, 
au<l  tliat  we  be  allowetl  to  return  to  our  respective  revrinii'uts. 
We  are  here  for  varioiiN  militury  ofFeiises,  and  fur  nothing  crim- 
inal. Nearly  all  of  us  liave  participated  in  llie  engagements 
und(>r  your  lead  in  this  department,  both  on  the  battle-tield 
and  on  the  lon;r,  wearisome  marclies  wc  have  been  called  to 
under^'o;  and  we  have  always  fdllowed  ciieerfully  wherever  you 
have  led.  We  naturally  feel  fliat  you  are  the  proper  person  to 
appeal  to  to  ;j;ive  us  one  more  chanci'  to  recleem  ourselves.  .\iid 
we  solenmly  assure  you  that  we  never  will,  by  any  unsoldier- 
like  act,  give  you  any  occasion  to  regret  any  act  of  cleiuency 
that  you  may  exercise  toward  us.  Many  of  us  have  families 
dependent  ou  us  for  support,  and  are  suH'ering  for  our  forfeited 
wages.  Many  of  us  are  already  sull'ering  from  that  dread 
scourge — the  scurvy — which  iimsl  increase  to  a  fearful  extent 
in  this  troi)ical  climate  as  the  season  advances  and  sweej*,  us 
away.  And  now  that  the  campaign  is  open  and  advancing, 
and  men  are  needed,  we  hope  we  may  be  j)eniiitted  to  returu 
to  the  field,,  and  by  future  faithfulness  in  our  country's  cause 
he  able  to  return  to  our  homes  with  what  all  good  uk'U  so 
highly  prize — iintarnixhcd  ctKiracttrt^.  Should  you  exi-rcise  your 
influence  in  our  favor  in  procuring  our  release,  rest  assured 
you  will  ever  be  rememheri-d  with  gratitude." 

This  petition  was  signed  by  "Moses  Fuller,"  sentenced 
to  three  years'  hard  ]:d)or,  with  ball  and  chain,  and  forfeited 
wages,  excei)t  three  dollars  a  mouth,  charged  with  selling 


i 


w 


4  ■;  iiuy^ 


M 


iV:V  ^    ' 


'H 


^r^ 


'i      ■!? 

i      f 

i      ' 

r 
I', 


■j. 


i' 


i 


:  I' 


in 

.11 


336 


A   woman'h   LIFI;-\V()UK. 


»f  I 


government  property,  to  wit :  exchanging,'  liis  nnrplns 
rations;  but  Judge  Attoclia  would  liHten  to  no  witness  in 
the  ease."  Sixty-nine  otlier  names  were  appended  to  tliis 
petition. 

O.ur  anxiously  looked  for  steamer,  the  Chjde^  came  in 
view,  hut  it  was  too  windy  for  it  to  land  until  noon.  It 
brought  about  thirty  prisoners,  who  had  come  in  with  a 
flag  of  truee,  mostly  white  refugees.  One  family  was  from 
Mobile.  The  woman  said  the  sufJering  from  the  war  was 
not  much  there,  and  all  she  knew  any  thing  about  had 
cn(»ugh  to  cat  and  wear.  "  But  I  reckon  ])oor  people  suf- 
fer," she  said,  evidently  wishing  us  to  understand  she  was 
not  poor.  Slie  had  two  servants  to  wait  on  her  and  five 
children.  But  her  servants  seemed  to  think  they  were 
free  here,  and  said  they  should  leave  her  unless  she  paid 
them  wages.  There  were  a  number  of  slaves  who  came 
here  for  freedom.  I  called  on  Colonel  (Jrosvenor,  the 
commandant  of  the  post,  who  appeared  like  a  kind-hearted 
ofiieer,  and  ho  approved  of  the  petition.  The  next  <lay, 
April  14th,  we  took  the  Chjdc  for  New  Orleans,  after 
being  a  week  on  the  island.  Ou  our  way  to  the  boat  a 
soldier  came  running  to  overtake  us,  with  a  message  from 
another  soldier  that  he  had  that  morning  found  peace  in 
believing.  He  would  have  come  himself,  only  that  he  was 
on  picket-guard  and  could  not  leave;  but  he  wanted  us  to 
know  that  our  mission  was  not  in  vain. 

As  Ship  Islantl  receded  from  view  sister  Backus,  as  well 
as  myself,  felt  thankful  that  our  Heavenly  Father  had 
ordered  all  things  well  in  regard  to  our  having  been  left 
"  'way  off  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico." 

We  reached  our  pleasant  New  Orleans  home,  at  Fl-l'r 
Rogers's  April  16th,  and  were  as  kindly  recei^'d 
had  been  friends  of  many  years'  standing.     '^Ht  !•  ^^, 

after  a  good  night's  rest,  we  made  an  effort  lud  ii  al 
Weitzel,  but  failed.  At  two  P.  M,,  we  ati  iided  pmyer- 
meeting  aud  had  a  rich  season  of  communing  w    \\  our 


il 


OENETIAL   WEITZEL. 


337 


well 
Imd 
loft 


"1 1, 


al 
liver- 
our 


o 


ITcavoiily  Fathor.  Tlioro  woro  prosont  two  cljaplains,  one 
ol"  Nvlidin  liiid  l)('on  ut  vurioii,-)  jtoint.s  in  Arkansas,  ami  lio 
gave  a  thrilling  account  of  nonu^  cnga^'cnicnts  his  n'i^iincnt 
had  had  with  the  oncinv.  The  other  wa«  insi  trnm  the 
dreadful  lijrht  at  Alexandria,  up  the  river.  It  is  reported 
and  believed  hy  thousands  that  the  relud  general  came  to 
General  IJanks  with  a  flag  of  truce  and  ini'orined  liini  that, 
unless  he  withdrew  his  colored  troops,  he  shoidd  take  no 
prisoiKTs  and  give  no  (puirter.  llejMJrt  said  further  that 
they  were  withdrawn  and  were  not  permitted  to  advance 
on  the  enemy,  as  they  desired,  and  the  conse(pience  was 
an  awful  slaughter  of  our  Northern  men.  'J'iui  colored 
troops  complained  of  inactivity  in  tin;  field  more  tlian  any 
thing  else.  We  found  along  the  whole  length  of  the  river 
fortifications  built,  streets  in  cities  cleaned,  and  the  greater 
part  of  manual  labor  performed  by  colored  soMiers. 

We  renewed  our  eflbrls  to  find  General  Weit/el,  visit- 
ing all  tlic  offices  of  the  army  we  could  hear  of.  Some 
repf)rted  that  he  was  up  lied  River  assisting  General  Baidcs, 
but  at  length,  with  tborougbly  blistered  feet,  I  found  him. 
I  introduced  myself,  as  usual,  by  handing  him  my  pa]«TS 
from  Governor  Blair  and  F.  C.  Beaman,  mend)er  of  Con- 
gress.    After  looking  them  over,  he  asked  : 

"What  can  I  do  for  you?" 

•'  I  hope  you  can  do  something,"  I  said,  "  toward  re- 
leasing three  thousand  of  our  soldiers  now  confined  on  Ship 
Island  and  the  Dry  Tortugas,  seventy  of  whom  liave  served 
under  you;  and  here  is  a  petition  from  them." 

He  took  it,  and  read  the  jietition,  and  not  more  than  a 
half-dozen  names  pcrhaj)S,  before  he  became  too  much  ex- 
cited to  read  further.  "  Mrs.  Ilaviland,"  he  said,  "  these 
are  as  noble- soldiers  as  I  ever  had  servo  under  mo.  I  don't 
think  Moses  Fuller,  or  any  of  the  others,  is  cai)ahle  of  doing 
a  wrong  act.  They  are  the  most  conscientious  men  I  ever 
knew.  Judge  Attocha  has  no  right  to  give  these  sentences; 
he  has  no  business  in  this  department  of  the  work." 

29 


III ' ' 


*  Mi*' 


h 


li 


v«-/ 


\ih-i 


4;;R 


mm 


338 


A  woman's  life-work. 


I, 


■i"f 


I 


a 


"  Can  *t  you  do  somctlunir  for  tluMr  roloase?"  I  askefl. 

"If  I  were  iu  eoniniand  I  would  tell  you  verj'  quick; 
but  General  Banks  is  the  one  you  ought  to  see." 

"I  am  aware  of  that;  but  he  is  beyond  my  reach  up 
Red  River.  And  they  told  me  they  sent  him  a  petition 
similar  to  this  three  months  ago;  but  they  had  heartl 
nothing  from  it." 

"  I  will  do  what  I  can  toward  getting  up  a  committee 
to  investigate  and  report  these  facts." 

"  Do  you  think  you  can  accomplish  any  thing  in  their 
favor?" 

"  I  fear  it  is  doubtful,  but  will  do  what  I  can." 

This  was  but  little  relief  to  me ;  but  what  could  I  do 
further?  I  called  at  the  Chri^ian  Conmiission  rooms,  dis- 
couraged and  weary,  while  sister  Backus  returned  to  our 
quarters.  The?e  rooms  I  found  well  filled  with  officers, 
am(mg  whom  were  generals  of  high  rank,  indicated  by  the 
eagles  and  stars  on  their  shoulders. 

"Here  comes  Mrs.  Havilaud,  from  Ship  Island.  And 
how  did  you  find  things  there?"  sai<l  brother  Diossy. 

"Sad  enough,"  was  my  rs.ply;  and  I  handed  him  a 
copy  of  the  petition  that  I  gave  General  Weitzel,  with  tho 
extract  of  the  record  of  fifteen  prisoners,  detailing  the  of- 
fense and  penalty  of  each.  The  officers  gathered  around 
to  see  and  hear. 

"  This  is  too  bad,"  said  one. 

"Can't  you  do  something  for  these  soldiers?"  I  inquired. 

"  I  wish  I  ccHild ;  but  I  can't  leave  my  post." 

Said  another,  "  It  is  a  pity  some  one  does  n't." 

I  turned  to  him  with,  "Can't  you  do  something  for 
their  release?" 

"It  is  the  same  with  me,"  he  answered;  "I  can  not 
leave  my  post." 

"  Some  one  ought  to  see  to  their  release.  Can  not 
you  see  to  their  release?" 

"  I  tell  you,  madam,  it  is  hard  to  do  much  for  each  other." 


STATING    THE   CASE. 


339 


Aud 


\  tho 
le  «)f- 
rouud 


ig  for 


lU  not 
n  not 
iher." 


"Gentlemen,"  I  responded,  "I  have  learned  one  thing 
thorougldy  since  being  with  the  army,  jiiid  that  is,  it  is 
almost  :  npossihlc  to  get  one  offieer  to  tinieh  anotlier's  red- 
tape.  But  j)osition  or  no  positi(^n,  head  or  no  head,  tlu'se 
flagrant  wrongs  ought  to  l)e  plowed  up  beam  deep.  Here 
comes  an  order  from  President  Lincoln  for  drafting  men, 
and  Judge  Attocha  has  laid  three  thousand  on  the  shelf, 
when  all  they  ask  is  to  be  j)ermitted  to  return  to  their 
respective  regiments.  That  man  is  serving  the  rebel  cause 
more  effectually  than  when  at  the  head  of  his  company  in 
the  rebel  rnnks,  by  decimating  the  Union  army  ;  and  here 
you  have  it  in  a  tangible  form.  I  am  informed  that  Judge 
Attocha  was  a  rebel  captain.  He  is  a  rcl)el  still,  and  in 
the  exercise  of  this  authority  is  banishing  your  S(»l<liers  for 
trivial  military  offenses,  in  irons,  with  forfeited  wages,  for 
which  their  famihes  arc  low  suffering." 

The  thought  struck  me.  What  will  these  officers  think, 
to  see  a  little  old  wonmn  tidking  to  them  lik(!  this?  for  I 
addressed  them  as  I  would  a  group  of  ten-year-old  boys. 
I  had  lost  all  reverence  for  shoulder-straps,  and  cast  a 
glajice  over  my  audience,  when  I  Siiw  a  number  in  tears. 
Surely  there  are  hearts  here  that  feel,  I  thought  to  myself 
I  turned  to  brother  Diossy,  and  said,  '*  You  can  leave  your 
position,  and  get  another  to  occupy  your  place  here?" 

'*  Yes,  I  could,  if  it  would  avail  any  thing ;  but  it 
would  be  impossible  for  me  to  accomplish  what  you  have 
done  on  Ship  Island." 

"Why?    The  idea  seems  to  me  perfectly  prei)osterous." 

"  I  will  tell  you  why.  There  is  so  much  wire-pulling 
here  in  the  army.  I  would  be  suspected  of  trying  to  dis- 
])lace  an  officer  for  the  p<^sition  for  myself,  or  for  a  friend 
standing  behind  me.  Consecjueutly  I  could  not  have  ex- 
amined the  record  as  yuu  did." 

"That  is  true,"  rejoined  a  general.  "I  presume  there 
is  not  one  of  us  that  could  have  had  access  to  those  records 
that  you  had,  for  the  reason  that  Mr.  Diossy  has  given. 


M, 


fp 


340 


A  woman's  life- work. 


mi 


€\ 


U  h 


Nil  < 


I  ?i 


They  know  you  have  no  such  object  in  view,  hut  see  you 
as  a  sort  of  sohliers'  mother;  and  records,  or  any  sort  of 
investigation,  would  be  opened  to  you  when  it  would  be 
closed  to  us." 

I  told  them  I  had  not  viewed  it  from  that  stand-point. 

One  of  the  officers,  a  very  large  man,  six  feet  and  four 
inches  tall,  I  should  judge,  stepjxid  up  to  me  in  officer-like 
style.  *'  What  do  you  propose  to  do  with  facts  you  gath- 
ered on  Ship  Island?" 

I  looked  up  in  his  face,  a  little  hesitating. 

"  I  say,  madam,  what  do  you  pro})ose  to  do  with  these 
papers  ?" 

"I  can  hardly  answe*-  intelligently,"  I  replied;  ''but 
I  will  tell  you  one  thing  I  do  j)ropose  to  do,  and  that  is, 
to  take  these  facts  from  one  officer  to  another,  over  all  the 
roun<ls  of  the  ladder,  until  they  reach  the  highest  official 
at  Washington,  but  what  justice  shall  be  done  to  those 
poor  soldiers  in  irons." 

He  settled  back,  with  softened  tone.  *'  Well,  it  ought 
to  be  done." 

The  commanding  apiiearance  and  tone,  with  the  changed 
mellow  voice,  of  that  officer  is  still  vividly  renuMubered. 

There  were  two  chajjlains  in  this  company  who  said 
they  would  unite  with  General  Weitzel  on  the  committee 
he  propose*!,  and  they  could  learn  within  a  week  whether 
they  could  accomplish  any  thing  in  their  behalf  If  fa- 
vorable, Chaplain  Conway  said  he  would  write  me  at 
Adrian,  as  we  wert^  S(M)n  to  return  to  our  homes,  and 
would  write,  as  I  recpiested,  by  two  boats  in  succession,  as 
guerrillas  were  at  that  tiine  frequently  interrupting  boats. 
If  no  letter  was  received  within  two  weeks  I  was  to  accej)t 
it  as  granted  that  nothing  could  be  done  for  them  in  that 
dei^artmcnt. 

At  2  o'clock  we  attended  prayer-meeting,  where  we  met 
many  soldiers  and  two  chaplains.  I  was  <'alled  upon  to  give 
a  sketch  of  our  Whip  Island  visit,  and  at  the  close  a  frail 


AT   A   COTTON-PRESS. 


341 


ngeJ 

said 
ittce 
^thcr 
la- 
at 
and 
as 
oats. 

that 

met 
give 
f'ruil 


appearing  young  man  was  introduced  to  me  at  his  own  re- 
quest, who  had  recently  been  a  victim  to  tliis  whohtiiilo 
injustice  to  soldiers.  1  had  observed  him  weoj)ing  lively 
while  1  was  presenting  the  wrongs  and  claims  of  those  pris- 
oneiis.  lie  said  he  had  just  been  rescued  iVom  a  like  late. 
The  offense  charged  was  disres})ect  to  an  officer,  who  was 
drunk  at  the  time,  and  was  unreasonable  with  him.  "  1 
was  injprudeut  enough,"  he  said,  "  to  answer  back  in  my 
own  defense.  For  this  1  was  thrown  into  prison,  and  re- 
ceived the  sentence  of  three  vears'  hard  labor  with  ball  and 
chain,  and  forfeited  all  my  wages  except  three  dollars  a 
month." 

Brother  Diossy  urged  our  going  to  Tortugas;  also  three 
chaplains  thought  it  my  duty  to  go  and  investigate  the 
condititm  of  the  two  thousand  prisoners  there.  So  intent 
were  they  on  my  going  that  they  said  I  could  have  trans- 
portation to  New  York  by  way  of  the  Gulf,  from  thence 
to  Washington,  and  thence  to  my  home.  My  re])orting 
these  facts  would  be  the  speediest  mode  of  effecting  their 
release.  But  as  Captain  Noyce  was  in  i)()ssession  of  the 
records  of  all  that  passed  through  his  hand,  many  at  Tor- 
tugas being  of  this  number,  and  this  extract  was  a  correct 
basis  from  which  to  judge  the  8,000  at  Ship  Island  and 
the  Tortugas,  it  seemed  to  me  equivalent  to  a  {KTSonal  visit. 
Yet,  if  there  was  no  other  way  to  secure  their  release,  I 
would  gladly  do  it. 

On  Sunday,  April  17th,  we  visited  a  cotton  press,  in 
which  were  one  hijiidred  freed  people,  without  a  comfortr 
able  bed  for  their  sick  and  dying.  As  in  other  places,  tho 
able  boilied  men  were  taken  for  soldiers,  and  their  familie!; 
left  homeless  and  unprovided  for.  They  seeuu'd  at  fii-st  t(» 
look  upon  us  with  suspicion,  either  as  whilom  slave-owners 
ct)mc  to  persuade  them  back  to  their  old  homes,  or  land- 
sharks,  to  take  the  women  and  half-grown  ehildrcn  to  work 
for  little  or  nothing,  until  guerillas  should  "gobble"  them 
up.     But  we  soon  disarmed  them  of  all  suspicion,  and  read 


¥ 


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m!^ 


,-?" 

1  f 

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342 


A   woman's  LIFK-WOUK'. 


and  spoke  ciicouragiiig  words  to  thoiii,  in  passing  through 
this  transition  state.  From  them  we  went  to  the  river 
hank  to  see  live  hun(h'ed  prisoners  of  war,  captured  up 
Ived  Kiver.     Many  of  tiiem  were  citizens  of  New  Orleans. 

Ou  returning  wc  went  to  a  meeting  of  tlic  colored  peo- 
ple, where  we  found  Unth^  Tom's  spirit  waiting  confidently 
for  the  "  hotter  day  a-coming."  A  numher  of  white  sol- 
diers present  encouraged  us  with  kind  words.  After  re- 
fresiiments  wc  attended  another  meeting,  and  listened  to 
an  instructive  sermon  hy  a  colored  chajjlain,  of  the  Second 
"Corps  d' Afri(pie,"  as  the  colored  regiments  were  called 
in  that  part  of  the  country.  He  was  the  first  colored  man 
who  received  an  appointment  from  the  government. 

At  4  P.  M.  we  visited  the  colored  Sahhath-school  of 
seven  hundred  at  the  Medical  College,  Chaplain  Conway 
8uj)erintended.  Colonel  Hanks,  General  Banks's  wile,  and 
a  numher  of  other  visitors  were  present.  Dr.  John  P. 
Newman  addressed  the  school,  and  gave  a  thrilling  narra- 
tive of  his  visit  to  the  Holy  Land,  exhihiting  the  native 
scrip,  sandals,  girdle,  goat-skin  liottle,  a  Palestine  lantern, 
and  sundry  other  curiosities.  After  a  few  encouraging  re- 
marks hy  Col.  Hanks,  the  suiK'rinteudent  unexi)ectedly 
called  upon  nic  to  address  the  school.  After  the  session 
closed  I  was  inti-oduced  to  ]Mrs.  Banks,  who  wished  me  to 
write  out  the  sketch  of  the  facts  I  had  gathered  on  Ship 
Island  for  her  to  send  to  her  hushand.  This  I  did.  She 
said  that  Judge  Attocha  promised  General  Banks  that  he 
would  <lo  all  ill  his  power  for  the  Union  cause,  and  now 
in  this  way  he  was  paying  him  for  his  promotion. 

After  giving  my  statements  to  Mrs.  Banks,  aud  the 
petition  to  General  Weitzel,  I  felt  tiiat  I  could  leave  for 
home  on  the  first  hoat  i^oing  North;  yet  we  had  hut  little 
hope  of  success  iu  hehu'-  of  the  the  •J,000  prisoners  in  this 
department.  W(^  took  jMissjige  <m  the  hospital  transjjort 
Thomm,  bound  for  Cairo,  with  eighty  wounded  soldiers 
from  the  lied  Kiver  expedition,  all  discharged  or  furloughed 


AT   PLAQUK.MINE. 


343 


now 

the 
3  for 
ittle 

tliis 
lH)rt 
liers 

hed 


for  liomc.  Medical  Inspector  St'ipp  kindly  pjavc  lis  a  state- 
room. AVe  were  grateful  to  our  Heavenly  Father  f  )r  the 
many  kind  friends  wo  everywhere  found,  although  sur- 
rounded l»y  l)itler  eneniies.  The  boat  did  not  design  sto})- 
ping  until  it  reached  l^aton  Ivouge;  hut  I  wanted  to  sto}) 
at  Phupieniine  to  get  the  little  girl  ^Fatihla,  previously 
mentioned,  to  take  to  her  mother,  who  had  made  her  es- 
cape a  few  years  before. 
7)  After  breakfast,  dressing  wounds  was  the  order  of  the 
day.  I  kept  off  the  Hies  during  the  process,  as  it  w:is  very 
diflicult  otherwise  to  keep  them  away,  the  stench  l)eing  so 
great.  Poor  boys!  there  were  all  sorts  of  wounds  among 
them, — salKTHHits  and  bullet-wounds  in  the  head,  neck, 
ghoulders,  arn)s,  hands,  l)ody,  legs,  and  feet,  of  all  shajn's 
and  sizes.  O  what  horrid  mangling!  Yet  the  same  pa- 
tience tliat  f<o  remarkably  characterized  the  Union  soldier 
everywhere  was  seen  here.  It  wjus  hard  to  restrain  tears 
in  their  presence,  but  we  gave  vent  to  them  when  in  our 
state-room. 
Q  I  was  unexpectedly  called  for  at  Plaquemine,  as  I  was 
informed  tiiat  ^Medical  Inspector  Stipp  had  ordered  the 
TlionuM  to  stop  for  me.  They  were  already  landing  before 
they  found  me.  I  caught  up  njy  bonnet  and  shawl  and 
threw  them  on  while  hastening  through  the  cabin.  Sister 
liackus  ran  with  me  to  tlic  ]>lank,  where  we  snatched  a 
parting  kiss.  I  jumjKid  jishore,  sister  Backus,  surgeons, 
and  a  few  others  waving  good-by  signals  with  their  hand- 
kerchiefs. The  Thomiu  j)ushed  out  into  the  channel,  and 
the  next  moment  found  me  without  my  official  pajx^rs, 
j)ocket-book,  or  portfolio;  all  were  gone  on  to  Baton  Kouge 
with  my  friend  Letitia  Backus.  In  my  haste  tiiey  had 
been  forgotten.  As  I  was  in^iuiring  for  the  name  of  Ehza's 
sister  of  a  C(^lored  jHcivet,  he  recognized  me  at  once,  Ixiing 
from  Detroit.  He  said  he  had  heard  me  s[K'ak  in  tlie 
colored  church  in  that  city,  and  urged  me  to  speak  for 
them  the  next  eveuiug  in  their  confiscated  Methodist  Epia- 


1 . .  k 

Ah 


AM    ^ 


-.-■ti.uwtii  -bi-i^jBy-titu* 


ssmmm 


344 


A  woman's  I.I fk- work. 


;i  „! 


I  :  '  ' 


■I 


t 


copal  Cluirch.  I  consented,  nn<l  found  the  two  sisters, 
with  little  Matilda,  almost  wild  with  delight. 

I  8(wn  had  the  i)loasurG  of  introducing  my  Detroit 
ao<iuaintan('e,  who  called  with  a  fcAV  other  young  men  that 
knew  me;  and  here,  too,  I  was  surrounded  by  friends,  but  they 
expressed  fears  of  my  not  securing  transportation  to  Baton 
Ivouge,  because  their  commander  was  cross  and  was  known 
to  issue  but  few  orders  for  transportation.  But  I  went  to 
his  office  and  told  him  what  my  business  was  in  the  army, 
and  why  I  called  there;  that,  on  leaving  the  floating  hospi- 
tal ill  haste,  I  forgot  my  official  papers,  and  consequently 
had  nothing  by  which  he  could  judge  wh«>ther  my  state- 
ment was  correct  or  not.  I,  however,  had  presumed  to 
call  on  him  to  see  if  I  could  secure  trans<portatiou  for 
myself  and  that  little  girl  of  twelve  years. 

"Well,  I  think  your  motherly  face  will  take  you  to 
Baton  Rouge,"  he  answered.  "There  is  a  regular  packet 
running  to  that  city,  and  I  will  send  a  note  by  you  to  the 
captain  that  will  secure  your  passage,  althougii  it  is  not  a 
government  boat.  The  cai)tain  has  received  favors  from 
me,  and  will  gladly  make  this  return." 

He  handed  mo  a  pa})er  that  ro<piested  a  state-room 
and  board  for  ui^,  for  which  continued  thankfulness  filled 
my  heart. 

The  friends  of  Eliza  and  of  another  escaped  slave, 
Fleming,  came  in  to  inquire  after  them,  and  to  tell  long 
stories  of  the  e(n)rts  put  forth  for  their  capture.  But  Bis- 
scl.  Slaughter,  and  "OKI  Eaton,"  as  they  called  him,  only 
had  the  opportunity  of  gratifying  themselves  in  threats. 

The  colored  minister  in  the  regiment  took  much  pains 
in  circulating  notice  of  the  meeting,  and  the  church  was 
well  fdled.  We  enjoyed  the  presence  of  the  Lord  Jesus  in 
our  midst.  There  were  those  there  who  had  felt  the  bitter 
j)angs  of  family  separations,  with  cruel  treatment,  who 
wept  for  joy  in  s|H^aking  of  the  i)recious  boon  of  freedom. 
Some  of  them   were  ft!arful  that  it  would  last  no  longer 


A   r.UERRILT.A   CAPTAIN. 


315 


o 


than  the  war;  but  I  assurod  them,  as  officers  and  soldiera 
had  done,  tliat  it  was  a  fixed  fact. 

The  pacitct  Bmih  came  in  at  five  o'clock,  P.  M.,  April 
21st,  when  we  took  leave  of  kind  friends  who  accompanied 
us  to  the  boat.  After  a  pleasant  trij),  we  were  received 
with  joy  on  our  safe  arrival  at  Baton  Rouge.  The  next 
day  we  visited  the  Forty-eighth  Illinois  Regiment,  and  dis- 
tributed a  quantity  of  reading  matter.  We  also  attended 
the  funeral  of  a  deceased  soldier,  where  the  i)rivilege  was 
granted  me  of  making  some  remarks.  I  endeavored  to 
enforce  the  solemn  truth,  "It  is  appointed  unto  man  once 
to  die,  and  after  this  the  judgment."  I  exhorted  those 
present  to  prepare  to  live  in  friendship  with  God,  as  that 
alone  would  enable  them  to  gain  the  victory  over  death. 

On  April  23d  we  visited  the  jail,  in  com})any  with 
brother  ISIerrilield,  and  distributed  Testaments  and  tracts, 
which  were  gladly  received.  Here  we  met  a  rebel  captain, 
who  said  he  was  a  rebel  of  the  strongest  kind ;  had  been 
fighting  to  establisii  his  government,  and  should  do  it  again 
if  he  lived  to  get  to  his  regiment  1  told  him  I  had  no 
hope  in  his  case,  unless  he  would  accept  the  truth  con- 
tiiined  in  the  Testament,  which  I  presented  to  him,  and 
said  that  if  he  would  read  carefully  and  i)rayerfully,  and 
drink  in  its  spirit  and  practice  its  teachings,  he  would  find 
a  religi(m  pure  and  undefiled. 

"Madam,"  he  answered,  "if  I  thought  reading  that 
book  carefully  and  prayerfully,  and  acce[)ting  pure  and 
undefiled  religion,  would  lead  me  to  lay  down  arms  in  de- 
fense of  the  Confederate  Government,  I  would  never  read 
a  word  in  it  or  take  one  thought  of  relig'ou;  no,  not  to 
save  my  soul." 

This  he  uttered  with  a  change  from  a  flushed  to  a 
blanched  countenance.  We  afterwards  learned  he  was  a 
captain  of  a  guerrilla  band,  and  had  been  sentenced  to  bo 
shot,  but  the  sentence  had  been  eonunuted.  A  Union 
man  who  was  a  citizen  here  knew  htm,  and  said  he  ordered 


1  "  •^'^i 


W- 


340 


A    WOMAN'S   LIFE- WORK. 


I  ■■!  1 


':;  'tM 


1  I  -i 


»;ri 


p 


a  Uuiou  niiui  out  of  his  buggy,  and  shot  him  dead ;  then 
he  buyonolcd  iiiin  tlirough  aud  through,  in  tlie  prescnco 
of  his  wife  and  child ;  then  ordered  tiieni  out,  took  the 
horse  aud  buggy,  aud  left  tiie  distracted  wife  and  chiUl  to 
wait  by  the  mangled  body,  until  a  passer  by  hastened  to 
the  city  and  sent  a  hearse  for  the  body.  On  the  way  to 
town  for  burial,  the  same  band  of  guerrillafi  cai)tured  the 
team  and  hearse,  and  left  again  the  distressed  mother  and 
child  to  get  the  mutilated  body  of  the  husband  and  father 
taken  to  burial  as  best  they  could.  "  Such  horrible  deeds," 
said  a  Union  man  of  this  city,  "  will  continue  until  gov- 
ernment takes  a  more  decided  policy." 
f9  On  Sunday  morning,  April  24th,  we  attended  the  sun- 

rise prayer-meeting  among  the  colored  people,  and  more 
earnest  jjrayers  I  never  heard  for  Uni(m  soldiers:  never 
heard  more  earnest  pleading  for  the  triumph  of  liberty. 
God  was  truly  overshadowing  his  own.  Before  the  rising 
of  the  sun,  there  was  a  large  congregation.  At  nine  o'clock 
we  were  invited  to  make  some  opening  remarks  in  brother 
Tucker's  Habbath-school  of  three  hundred  children.  Then 
we  were  conducted  to  another  Sabbath-school,  where  wc  were 
invited  to  make  a  few  closing  remarks.  At  11  o'clock  we 
attended  a  mwting  led  by  Chaplain  Berge.  On  returning 
to  our  boarding-place,  we  were  called  upon  by  brother  Mer- 
rifield,  who  accompanied  us  into  the  fort  to  address  the 
colored  troops.  Sister  Backus  referred  to  the  importance 
of  makir.g  themselves  intelligent,  so  that  when  their  rights 
were  established  as  citizens,  they  would  be  prepared  to 
vote  understand ingly.  This  brought  smiles  from  the  offi- 
cers, aud  frowns  from  a  few  of  the  white  soldiers.  Wo 
also  attended  a  meeting  conducted  by  the  chaj)lain  of  the 
general  hospital,  who  preached  a  very  ai)propriate  sermon 
for  officers  as  well  as  soldiers.  Pe  warned  against  the 
truckling,  time-serving,  and  cotton^neculatiug  manifesta- 
tions in  this  war,  and  also  the  influeuce  of  Southern  women 
in  sympathy  with  the  rebellion. 


COLORED  OFFICER8. 


347 


offi. 
Wo 
the 

ilOU 

tlie 
5ta- 
lea 


Tills  was  the  pixth  religious  service  we  ntteiuled  during 
the  (lay,  in  four  of  which  we  hiul  taken  an  active  ])art. 
We  retired  to  rest  until  the  6:30  o'clock  meeting  at  the 
Methodist  Epi.scopal  Churcli,  now  turned  over  to  Cha])Uu*u 
Brakeinan,  who  was  called  away  the  i)revious  day.  Ho 
had  left  an  urgent  request  for  nie  to  address  the  soldiers 
on  Sahhath  evening;  hut  I  told  the  chaplain  who  hrought 
the  word  we  could  make  no  further  engagements,  as  we 
were  waiting  hourly  for  a  hoat  going  up  the  river.  Before 
six,  a  steamer  stopped,  and  we  took  passage  for  Natchez, 
as  we  hud  husiness  to  see  to  concerning  an  orphan  asylum. 
One  of  tlje  chaplains  said  if  we  could  realize  the  good  it 
was  doing  the  soldiers,  we  would  vij^it  them  oftener ;  that 
there  were  more  conversions  during  the  week  after  we  left 
than  in  many  months  previously.  An  exhortation  from  a 
mother  reminded  the  soldiers  of  home  and  home  influences. 

We  had  a  converjjation  with  a  colored  cai)taiu,  who 
had  just  resigned  on  account  of  the  constant  indignities 
lu'iipod  upon  the  colored  troops.  He  was  a  man  of  wealth 
and  intelligence,  and  gave  us  an  account  of  a  review  hy 
General  Sherman,  after  General  Butler  left.  When  Gen- 
eral Sherman  came  to  him,  he  stopi)cd  to  look  at  the  hirs 
on  his  shoulders,  and  grufHy  asked,  "  Arc  you  a  captain?" 
"  Yes,  sir,"  was  the  reply.  "  O,  you  are  too  hlack  for  a 
captain,"  said  the  general.  At  Fort  Hudson,  when  »»ur 
troops  were  retreating  under  a  galling  fire,  a  colored  cap- 
tain, with  his  men,  at  the  risk  of  his  life,  ran  to  bring  out 
General  Sherman,  who  was  badly  wounded,  and  would 
have  died  but  for  the  daring  feat  of  the  colored  soldiers. 
The  colored  captain  lost  his  life,  l)ut  General  Sherman  was 
rescued.  Since  then  he  has  spoken  highly  of  colored  sol- 
diers, and  of  the  brave  captains  that  led  tliem.  My  in- 
formant said  that  after  General  Banks  assumed  command 
they  ho}K?tl  for  l)etter  treatment,  but  their  hopes  were  vam. 
As  the  men  in  Decend)er  and  January  were  in  want  of 
shoes  and  clothing,  he  told  General  Banks  that  they  were 


h 


•  i 


~ 


.148 


A    WOMAN'S    MFK-WOItK. 


».,  *.. 


;  'I'M 


^i  ■• 


o 


i 


!:i: 


not  in  a  snit:il»!e  condition  to  work  on  the  fortificntions 
where  ti>e  (U'tacinncnt  usus  ordered,  hut  no  attention  was 
j)ai<l  to  him.  He  iiKjuired  why  his  men  conhl  not  bo  f^iip- 
plicd  the  .«unie  as  the  white  sohliers.  The  reply  he  re- 
ceived was,  "  Do  n't  you  knov  you  are  niggers,  and  must 
not  expect  tlie  same  treatment?'  "From  that  moment," 
he  said,  "I  resolved  to  resign;  but  after  waiting  a  little, 
and  seeing  no  better  prospects,  I  did  so,  and  shall  not  re- 
sume arms  until  we  can  be  treated  as  men." 

In  New  Orleans  two  regiments  of  free  colored  men 
were  raised  in  f()r>y-eight  hours.  They  were  ofHeered  by 
men  of  their  color  in  grades  as  high  as  major  by  (Jenenil 
Butler,  who  said  they  were  as  good  officers  as  he  held 
under  him.  We  arrived  in  Natchez  on  the  2r)th,  where 
we  met  rejoicing  friends.  We  found  a  number  of  the  mis- 
sionaries sick,  among  them  sister  Burlingame. 

The  day  following  we  si)ent  chiefly  in  writing,  and  dis- 
tributing Testaments  and  tracts  among  soldiers.  Jn  the 
evening  we  attended  a  j)rotracted  meeting,  conducted  by 
two  sisters.  They  acquitted  themselves  nobly,  and  had 
three  a)nvcrsions.  They  exhorted  earnestly  and  j)rayed 
fervently.  They  invited  us  to  take  part  with  them.  One 
of  the  ministers  told  me  they  had  worked  in  this  meeting 
until  they  were  tired  out,  and  then  gave  it  over  to  these 
mothers  in  the  Church,  whose  laboi-s  the  Lord  was  blessing 
in  the  conversion  of  precious  souls. 

We  made  an  effort  to  secure  a  house  for  an  orphan 
asylum. 

Rel)el  sympathizers  were  making  trouble  all  along  the 
luie  of  our  work.  They  tried  every  plan  that  could  Ik) 
«levis(xd  to  drive  the  refugees  back  to  their  old  plantations. 
An  infamous  "health  order"  was  issued,  compelling  every 
colored  }Kjrson,  not  employed  by  resj>onsiblc  parties  in  the 
city  or  suburbs,  to  go  into  the  "  corral,"  or  colored  camp. 
Many  were  employed  by  colored  citizens,  who  were  doing 
all  they  could  to  find  work  for  them.     But  on  the  day  this 


iiKF.icKns  sFRvr(  r:.s. 


two 


mn 


his 


CD 


onltT  tniik  ('fTfct  fioMit-rn  were  nciit  t<»  liiint  llioui  out  of  all 
puc'h  |»lacc.s,  a8  uo  colored  inirty  >vad  deciiu'd  rc's|K)iisil)li' ; 
unil  all  who  were  not  ai-tual  iiu'inl)ers  ol"  thi'sc  coloiiul  I'ain- 
ilifs  were  iliivin  (»ut  at  the  iM)iiit  of  Union  bayonets. 

They  gathered  two  hundred  and  fil'ty,  nio.stly  women 
and  children,  an<l  drove  them  through  the  streets  of 
Katohe/.  on  a  chilly,  rainv  dav,  and  marched  them  into 
the  cami)  of  four  thousand  in  conihMuned  tents.  One  of 
the  colored  citizens  told  me  that  she  was  payinjr  her  wonuui 
wages,  and  allowing  her  to  have  her  three  children  with 
her,  but  the  soldiers  drove  her  out  into  the  raiu.  Men 
and  women  tantalized  them  as  thev  were  marching  throu'di 
the  streets,  gaying:  "That's  the  way  the  Yank<'es  treat 
you,  is  it?  You'd  better  come  hack  to  us;  we  never 
treated  you  like  that."  Many  of  the  women  went  into 
camp  crying.  Said  an  old  colored  man:  "  N(!ver  min', 
thar's  a  better  day  a  comin'.  'T  would  be  strange  if  I'nclo 
Sam  had  n't  a  few  naughty  boys."  lie  was  one  of  the 
group  that  was  driven  in. 

We  heard,  April  oOth,  that  there  was  a  skirmish  near 
our  lines  the  evening  before.  A  i)arty  of  scouts  had  shot 
into  the  pickets,  and  they  retreated  ;  but  we  did  not  learn 
Avhether  any  were  killed.  News  came  to  us  of  Calvin 
Fairbanks's  release  from  the  Kentucky  penitentiary.  We 
trusted  that  the  same  Deliverer  would  o|K'n  the  prison- 
door  for  the  three  thousand  soldiers  ou  the  two  islands  in 
the  Gulf. 

At  nine  o'clock  A.  INf.,  ISfay  1st,  wc  attende«l  the  organ- 
ization of  the  fifth  colored  Sabbath-school  in  the  city.  At 
eleven  A.  M.  we  went  to  Wall  Strict  (..'luirch,  and  listened 
to  an  interesting  discourse  by  (Miaplain  Trask,  of  the  Fourth 
Illinois  Regiment.  At  two  P.  M.,  at  the  Colored  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  we  heard  broth(>r  Burlingame. 
After  a  short  exhortation  by  bnHlier  Fitzhugh,  twelve 
came  forward  for  prayer,  and  some  were  blessed  with  par- 
don.     At  six   P.   M.   we  attended  a  soldiers'  meeting  at 


P  \ 


*  \ 


;  'm 


i  i 


S;  ■    f 


;l  : 

'i       1 

i 

v 

■ 

^ 

i(  : 


© 


350 


A  woman's  mkk-wouk. 


Wall  Strrot  Chnrcli,  in  which  w(>  took  a  |)!irl  ;  also  a  num- 
ber of  soldiri's  sjioko  and  prayed.  iJctwcen  nicotinffs  I 
"wrote  a  letter  i'or  a  colored  iiiaii  to  his  wife,  who  is  still  a 
tflave  in  Woodville,  twenty  miles  distant. 

I  was  sick  with  a  chill  and  fever  May  2d,  and  the 
nearest  to  heing  homesick  since  I  left  Michigan.  The  next 
day  I  wa.s  l)etter.  Here  I  met  Jo-seph  Warner,  with  wh«mi 
I  had  heen  ac<iualnted  from  his  childhoiHl.  lie  was  a  lessee 
lit  Waterproof.  lie  had  a  large  plantation,  and  two  hun- 
dred hands  employed.  He  was  twice  taken  by  guerrillas. 
lie  told  them  thoy  could  hang  or  shoot  him,  but  they 
might  rest  assured  that  forty  of  their  men's  lives  would 
pay  fur  his,  and  forty  men  stoml  ready  to  take  his  place; 
and  they  let  him  go  each  time.  A  distressed  mother  came 
to  us  to  in(|uire  for  her  two  daughters,  that  her  mistress 
Iiad  sent  to  Texas  to  elude  the  effects  of  the  Proclamation 
of  Emancii)ation.  She  had  begged  her  njistress  to  allow 
them  to  renuiin  in  town,  if  she  could  not  have  them  with 
her.  The  mistress  said,  "  No,  you  shall  never  have  y<jur 
girls  with  you  again,  not  even  to  give  you  a  drink  of  water 
if  you  arc  dying."  This  was  at  the  retaking  of  Baton 
Kouge,  when  the  mistress  ccmsidered  herself  again  in  full 
power;  but  she  was  soon  to  suffer  herself  When  that  city 
was  retaken  by  Union  men,  the  only  son  of  the  mistress 
was  burned  to  death  in  the  house  at  which  he  was  board- 
ing. l"i)on  this  she  fell  into  fits.  Yet,  Pharaoh-like,  slie 
persisted  in  keeping  the  slave-girls  in  Tcxa.s. 

A  number  of  missionaries  called  on  us,  and  urged  me 
to  remain  with  them  a  few  weeks  longer;  but  for  two 
reasons  I  had  to  decline:  First,  those  three  thousand  sol- 
dier prisoners  were  daily  on  my  mind ;  and,  second,  my 
poor  health  made  it  a  duty  to  return  home. 

Skirmishing  four  miles  off  took  place  May  r)th,  and  we 
couhl  see  the  blue  smoke  of  battle.  The  shooting  .seemed 
near  us.  How  little  this  terrible  war  was  realized  iu  our 
own  free  State  homes! 


dei-imiim:  and  riirr.n. 


351 


two 
d  sol- 
iny 


I  met  on  tlio  .stioot  a  miiliittn  '/\r\  scvontoon  yours  old, 
woppiii;.',  uiul  iiKjiiind  the  ciinsc  of  Iter  i:r'n't\  Slio  said 
her  owner,  Mrs.  Moreliciul,  luul  Uwn  heat  in;:  lu'r. 

*'  Why  do  yon  remain  with  her;'"  I  asked. 

•'She  keeps  my  baby  IfMked  np,"  wa.s  her  reply;  "and 
she  says  if  I  leave  I  shall  i)ev(>r  have  him." 

I  told  her  that  I  eonld  take  her  to  the  provost-marshal, 
who  would  give  her  uu  order  lor  her  ehild.  At  this  she 
cheered  uj),  and  went  with  me,  and  received  an  order,  in 
case  she  could  not  get  it  without.  She  said  she  would  go 
back  and  pack  Iut  few  things  in  her  old  trunk,  and  then 
wateh  I'.er  opportunity  when  the  mistress  was  out  to  l)ring  her 
baby  to  the  freed  men's  store.  After  the  child  was  secured 
I  sent  a  soldier  with  her,  who  brought  her  trunk,  without 
letting  any  one  in  the  hotel  know  of  her  movements. 
Only  a  short  time  elapsed  before  we  saw  Mrs.  Morehead 
in  front  of  the  hotel,  looking  up  and  down  tlic  street  for 
her  Delphine,  who  kept  herself  hid  in  the  frcednun's  store 
with  her  little  Charlie,  about  two  years  old.  Just  before 
the  war  Mr.  Morehead  had  brought  her  away  from  her 
mother  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  the  height  of  her  am- 
bition was  to  get  back  there.  I  secured  transportation  for 
herself  and  child  to  Cairo,  and  paid  her  fare  to  St.  Louis. 
But  she  was  in  constant  fear  of  her  former  owners. 

Her  history  was  a  sad  one.  She  was  bought  for  their 
hotel  i'aucy  girl,  and  the  father  of  her  child  was  her  own 
master.  The  child  resembled  his  father  so  nmch  that  he 
was  frequently  taken  by  strangers  to  be  the  child  of  the 
mistress.  The  mother  was  two-thirds  wliite ;  and  the  Ho- 
man  nose,  straight  hair,  and  white  skin  of  the  child  would 
not  give  a  stranger  the  least  idea  that  he  had  even  the 
sixteenth  part  of  African  blood  in  his  veins. 

As  a  boat  was  expected  to  arrive  within  an  hour,  wo 
took  leave  of  the  many  kind  friends,  and  repaired  to  the 
wharf-boat.  Soon  ^Irs.  ^lorehead  followed,  and  called  for 
;  but  the  trembli 


■wvn 

V'V 


iiph 


img  gi 


IH 


n% 


'i  f  ■ 


352 


A  woman's  life-work. 


I{  {§« 


■  ll^^ 


1   :l 


i 


it '' 


111 


But  SIS  her  mi.-tross  rnontod  the  calls,  she  at  longtli  came 
to  nic  with  the  child,  asking,  "  Wbat  shall  I  do'/  1  would 
rather  throw  myself  and  buby  into  the  river  than  go  back 
to  her."  Said  her 'mistress,  "I  tell  you,  Del.,  I've  got  an 
ofHccr  to  come  and  take  you  to  jail  lor  stealing."  I  told 
Delphinc  she  could  rest  a.ssured  that  noue  of  the  ofTicei*s 
would  trouble  her,  *fbr  they  iu formed  me  they  should  not 
notice  her  mistress's  complaiuts,  let  thera  be  what  they 
would,  as  they  had  had  more  trouble  with  that  relx?l  fam- 
ily than  a  little  ever  since  they  occupied  the  city.  I  told 
lier  to  leave  Charlie  on  the  boat,  and  go  out  on  the  levee 
and  tell  her  mistress  plainly  that  she  was  going  to  St.  Louis 
to  her  mother,  and  not  be  so  excited.  She  did  so,  and 
^Irs.  Morehead  kept  her  nearly  an  hour  trying  to  coax, 
hire,  and  frighten  her,  but  without  avail.  Delphinc  all 
this  while  was  trembling  with  fear.  I  believe  if  she  had 
seen  an  officer  coming  with  her  mistress,  she  would  have 
thrown  herself  and  child  into  the  river.  JMrs.  ^lorehead 
at  length  came  upon  the  whurf-lx)at.  When  Delphinc  saw 
her  coming  she  snatched  up  her  child,  and  ran  to  tiie  rear 
of  the  boat,  and  the  mistress  after  her.  Again  she  came 
to  me  with  "What  shall  I  do?"  I  replied,  "Sit  down 
here  bv  me  and  hold  vour  child,  and  she  will  not  dare 
touch  you."  She  trembled  as  if  having  an  ague  fit.  Soon 
her  mistress  stood  before  us  in  a  rage,  and  turned  to  me: 

"  You  came  into  my  kitchen  with  an  order,  and  took 
ncr,  when  she  was  doing  Ix^tter  than  you  ever  dare  do." 

"  I  never  went  into  your  kitchen,"  I  said.  "A  soldier 
went  with  her  for  her  trunk.  I  understood  an  officer  called 
on  you  and  called  for  her  child,  at  her  request,  before  she 
came  to  inc." 

"  It's  a  lie.     Dclj)hlnc  YumI  about  me." 

Said  sister  Backus,  "  I  should  n't  think  you  would 
want  such  a  jjcrson  about  you,  if  that  is  true." 

"Well,  the  child  seems  so  near  to  me.  I've  alwaysj 
liad  the  cure  of  it." 


ox   TIIK   nOAT. 


353 


U). 

ildier 

■ailed 

ro  slio 


vovild 
ihvjiysj 


She  loft  lis  at  lonpth  Avith  ft  threat  that  she  would  bring 
the  offieera  to  take  her  to  jail  for  stealing. 

The  Kaxnd  eanie  in  at  11  o'clock  A.  M.,  May  (ith, 
hound  for  8t.  Louis,  JMifvSouri,  and  we  went  aboard.  As 
we  pushed  out  from  shore,  Delphine  clapped  her  hands. 
"  Now  J  know  Mistrcss  Morehead  can  trouble  nie  no  more; 
thank  God,  I  ve  got  my  Charlie  too!  NolM)dy  knows  what 
1  have  gone  through  since  I  've  been  in  this  city."  We 
nrrivcil  in  Vicksburg  May  7th,  an('  took  breakfast  at  tho 
Soldiers'  Home,  where  we  met  Ex-Governor  Harvey,  a  sol- 
diers' friend.  Here  was  a  ladv  who  had  char;j:e  (;f  tho 
body  of  her  brother,  killed  up  lied  Itiver,  taking  the  re- 
mains back  to  Iowa.  • 

After  spending  a  little  time  in  this  large  city  (jf  soldiers, 
whose  tents  whitened  the  adjoining  fields,  we  left.  On 
the  day  this  city  fell  into  Uni(m  hands,  report  said,  thero 
was  an  old  man  very  confident  of  the  success  of  the  Con- 
federate government,  and  he  said  that  God  could  not  let 
it  i'ail ;  if  he  did,  he  would  never  believe  thcn^  is  a  (Jo<l. 
When  the  gun-boats  came  in,  and  he  was  told  thr  rity  was 
taken,  he  would  not  believe  it,  iiiitil  he  rose  uj)  fron»  his 
chair  and  saw  marching  columns  of  soldiers,  with  tluir 
bayonets  glistening  in  the  Fourtli  of  July  sun.  He  im- 
mediately sank  back  in  his  chair  in  a  f^ant,  and  so«»n  died. 

]\Iay  8th  was  a  sort  of  a  war  Sabbath.  The  night  l)e- 
fore  our  boat  ran  aground,  and  it  took  three  hours  to  get 
her  off.  Many  of  the  [)assengers  dressed,  and  made  ready 
to  escajw  at  the  first  })ossibh'  chance,  in  case  she  sl>ould 
become  wrecked.  We  were  t<»ld  that  at  one  tunc  the  -.valer 
was  three  feet  deep  in  her  hull.  By  making  great  eflbrt 
the  men  succecdetl  in  pumping  it  out.  She  run  slowly, 
being  a  very  large  boat.  We  had  a  variety  of  passengers 
on  board,  officers  of  various  ranks,  soldiers,  missionaries, 
preachers,  and  a  few  secessionists.  Major-general  Hunter 
reniaiiieil  with  us  two  davs. 


m 


Quite  an  excitement  arose  over  the  arres 


■i^ 


«t  of 


a 


sinug- 


fW^^' 


354 


A  woman's  life-work. 


♦q 


gler  of  gowls  tlirough  our  lines.  He  was  thought  to  be  con- 
uectcd  with  the  little  stcumer  Baltic.  There  was  a  major 
ami  a  provost-marshal,  from  Baton  Rouge,  who  followed 
up  the  matter.  When  the  prisoner  was  brought  to  the 
rear  of  the  boat,  with  his  hands  tied,  it  created  much  feel- 
ing among  a  dozen  colored  people,  until  they  heard  the 
major  ask  him  if  he  had  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance. 
He  answered  gruffly,  "  No,  and  I  never  will." 

This  led  the  major  to  ask  other  questions  concerning 
the  trade  of  the  Baltic. 

"  I  will  toll  you  nothing  about  it,  if  I  stand  here  till 
I  die,  and  you  may  go  to ." 

This  brought  the  sympathy  of  the  colored  peo2)le,  as 
well  as  of  the  rest  of  us,  down  below  zero.  Said  one  col- 
ored man,  "Let  him  stand  there,  then,  until  he  dies." 
But  within  an  hour  ..c  consented  to  l)c  sworn  to  tell  the 
truth,  and  nothing  l>»it  the  truth,  and  the  nuijor  examined 
him  in  the  presence  of  many  witnesses.  Major-general  Hun- 
ter one  of  them. 

On  Monday  I  introduced  myself  to  (general  Hunter,  as 
usual,  by  my  letters. 

"How  long  have  you  l)een  in  the  army,"  he  asked, 
"and  how  far?" 

In  reply  to  his  queries  I  gave  him  a  sketch  of  our 
work.  I  mentioned  General  Tuttle's  refusal  to  grant  ua 
transportation,  the  wnmgs  of  the  colored  soldiers,  and  the 
history  of  the  three  thousand  prisoners  on  Ship  Island  and 
Dry  Tortugas,  and  stated  the  fact  that  some  missionaries 
and  missiimary  teachers  had  advised  me  to  say  nothing  of 
these  wrongs,  however  flagrant.  I  also  called  his  attention 
to  the  i>rinted  order  placed  in  our  hands,  that  we  were 
not  to  rejx)rt  any  movenients  in  the  army,  either  verbally 
(H*  by  writing,  and  asked  his  advice  whether  it  was  wiser 
to  report  or  to  keep  silent. 

"Mrs.  Haviland,"  he  replied,  "I  am  glad  you  have 
Iweu  in  the  army  so  long,  and  I  am  glad  you  v.eut  so  far, 


MAJOR-OEXERAL  HUNTER. 


355 


)iiJirio3 

hinf?  of 

tention 

|e  wore 

rbally 

wiser 

have 
Iso  far, 


and  I  will  explain  that  onler.  You  have  ohserved  move- 
ments of  troops  from  one  place  to  another  just  ou  the  eve 
of  hattlc.  These  are  the  matters  you  are  not  to  report; 
but  the  wrongs  you  have  met  you  nuiy  proclaim  ou  your 
arrival  at  home  from  the  house-tops." 

I  thanked  him  for  this  advice,  for  it  was  to  me  a  great 
relief.  It  seemed  to  trouble  him.  After  pacing  the  cabin 
to  and  fro  a  few  minutes,  he  came  to  me  and  siiid : 

"Mrs.  Ilavilaud,  we  have  had  a  goinl  deal  of  sifting 
done  in  tlie  army,  and  more  nmst  be  doue  yet.  Did  Gen- 
eral Tuttle  see  those  papers  you  gave  mei"* 

"He  did,"  I  answered. 

"  ("opperlioads  have  no  business  in  the  army  in  the 
exercise  of  such  authority  as  this.  General  Tuttle  ran  Kr 
governor  on  the  ('opjxjrhead  ticket  in  Iowa  last  year. 
AVhat  right  has  a  coppirhead  to  be  lifted  up  here,  where 
loyal  men  are  needed?  I  have  never  seen  the  least  cause 
to  abandim  mv  first  conclusion,  that  the  oulv  wav  to  crush 
this  rebellion  was  to  eniancipate  and  arm  the  slaves;  and 
if  I  could  have  l)eeu  peruiiited  to  carry  «»ut  my  plan  of 
taking  Kentucky  into  my  field,  as  my  rank  and  ptsition 
entitled  me  to  do,  I  should  have  proclaimetl  freedoiii  to 
the  slaves  as  fast  as  I  reached  them.  The  strength  I  could 
have  gathc  >d  from  the  slave  i)opulati(m  would  s(M>n  have 
Ikhmi  two  hundred  thousand  men,  and  that  nund)cr  of  stand 
of  arms  was  all  I  asked.  Rut  the  vacillatiiiir  p(»licy  of  the 
govermuent  would  not  j)ernjit  it.  I  saw  clearly  lliat  this 
was  the  only  jwdicy  that  v.ould  j)rove  successful,  and  I 
thought  every  Ixxly  else  must  see  it  when  I  first  prcM-laimed 
it  in  S<mth  Carolina.  It  seemed  tlune  were  others  wh»» 
took  a  different  view,  and  my  order  was  sujwrseded." 

Sai<l  sister  Backus,  "You  have  the  satisfaction  of  know- 
ing that  your  jK)llcy  had  to  be  adopted  before  the  iijitioii 
could  succeed." 

"O,  yes,"  replied  he  reluctantly;  "but  it  is  with  regret 
that  I  think  of  the  drafting  of  thousands,  which  might  have 


%t 


ri;. 


,n 


1  ;■ 


I  iff 


' 


;i  .t 


■t:  ; 


I-  * 


I 


I    .      . 


1       J 


356 


A   woman's   IJFE-AVOniC. 


been  avoided  just  as  well  us  not.  There  was  no  necessity 
for  the  draft." 

Sister  IJackiis  rcmarlicd,  "As  a  nation,  we  must  suflTer 
defeats  until  it  readies  liie  right  position,  not  only  in  arm- 
ing colored  men,  but  in  paying  them  just  wages;  for  they 
make  as  good  soldiers  as  white  men." 

A  lm*ander  said,  "I  dun't  know  that  they  make  as 
pofxl  soldiers  as  white  men,  from  the  fact  that  they  are 
not  so  intelligent.  Here  is  General  Hunter,  and  I  presume 
he  will  say  the  same  thing" — turning  to  him  lor  an  answer. 

In  a  decided  tone  the  general  said,  "I  shall  say  no  such 
thing.  They  make  tlic  best  of  soldiers;  for,  first,  they  are 
kind  and  docile;  and,  second,  they  are  apt  to  learn.  They 
learn  military  tactics  very  readily,  and  ought  to  have  the 
same  wages  as  any  other  soldier.  All  along  this  river 
I  find  one  continued  scries  of  wrongs  inflicted  upon 
the  negro." 

We  told  him  of  the  infamous  order  by  Dr.  Kelley, 
eanction^d  by  (icneral  Tut  tic,  and  published  under  the 
specious  guise  of  "  Health  Order,"  to  drive  the  slaves  back 
to  their  masters.     Tic  shook  his  head  in  disgust. 

"AXHiy  does  the  head  of  this  serpent  rise  up  at  almost 
every  point?  "When  it  appcarc'd  in  the  department  under 
my  command  T  crushed  it  at  once." 

At  the  mouth  of  lied  River  three  women  came  aboard, 
hy  jiermission  of  the  gunboat  offic(>rs  stationed  there.  TJieir 
object  was  to  hire  men,  whom  they  wanted  to  gather  cane 
for  working  up  into  weaving  reeds.  One  of  them  reported 
to  Dr.  Ti')iig  that  she  had  1)ocn  Matching  a  couple  of  ladies 
on  our  biiat,  and  she  believed  them  spies,  for  they  seemed 
to  have  a  great  deal  of  writing  to  d;).  Dr.  Long  hajv 
j)ened  to  know  enough  about  the  ladies  reported  as  spies 
to  allow  sister  Backus  and  myself  to  pass  unmolested. 
15ut  th(>sc  hulies  were  themselves  susj^cted  of  being  s[)ies. 

Wc  naclicd  the  city  of  INFcmphis  May  lOlh.  Sister 
IJiU'kus  had  Ir'cii  (piite  sick  fi)r  three  days,  but  was  now 


V  \  i| 


HOME   AGAIN. 


357 


r  tho 
})a('k 


ponnl , 

TJ.eir 

cane 

|)orto(l 

Ihulics 

liai)- 

Ispios. 
iSistor 


0 


a  little  l)etter.  We  called  at  the  Christian  Commission 
Kooms,  and  got  a  niarkct-haskot  full  of  reading  matter  for 
distribution. 

The  next  day  was  quite  cold  and  freezing.  We  stopjied 
at  Columbus  a  short  time.  Here  we  secured  a  jva|)cr  giv- 
ing an  account  of  the  terrible  slaughter  at  Fredericksburg. 
Rumor  had  it  that  fifteen  thousand  were  killed  and 
wotmdcd;  that  Lee  was  driven  back  thirty  miles;  Grant 
and  Butler  were  said  to  be  pushing  on  to  Richmond,  and 
Avere  now  within  a  short  day's  march  of  the  rebel  capital. 
General  Hunter  was  quite  sanguine  iu  hope  that  Richmond 
woidd  soon  fall. 

On  May  13th  we  arrived  at  Cairo,  and  took  leave  of 
the  friends  whom  our  few  days'  ac(piaintance  had  made 
dear.  We  reached  home  on  the  18th,  amid  the  rejoicing 
of  dear  children  and  friends.  It  is  no  wonder  the  soldiers 
we  mot  were  delighted  to  see  a  Northern  face,  for  it 
reminded  them  of  their  home  associations.  Intercession 
unceasing  went  up  for  the  three  thousand  .soldier  prisoners 
banished  to  the  (Julf  Islands.  The  mail  had  brought  noth 
inj;  fn»m  New  Orleans.  Bv  this  I  was  to  understand  that 
nothing  could  be  done  for  them  there.  Congress  was  still 
in  session,  and  I  immediately  wrote  a  full  account  of  their 
wrongs  to  congressman  Beaman,  and  urged  the  presenta- 
tion of  the  case  to  the  war  department. 

Without  giving  myself  time  to  rest,  I  hastened  to 
Detroit,  to  report  our  work  and  give  an  account  of  the 
unjust  sentences  of  those  prisoners  at  Ship  Island  and  tlie 
Tortugas.  While  making  my  statements  in  Captain  K.  B. 
Ward's  (»ffiee,  he  took  them  down  to  forward  them  to 
B.  F.  Wade,  chairman  of  the  (■ommittee  on  the  Conduct 
of  the  War;  but  he  said,  "You  nmst  go  to  WasJiirtgton 
and  rejHirt  thes«  fuet*!  to  the  committee  in  |HTson."  I  told 
him  I  hail  written  the  lidl  <i»tails  to  my  friend,  F.  C. 
pK-anmn,  memlirr  of  Congress,  ami  1  thonglit  ho  wotdd  do 
all  that  .  (itiVl  Ixi  done.     lie  a»nH>T»d.  "I  shall  sentl  these 


f 


I' 


'trti 


m " 


HP 


til! 


^•liii  I 


nm  1^ 


H 


\ith    \ 


l! 


e 


358 


A  woman's  life-wouk. 


items  to  B.  F.  Wado,  and  our  letters  will  make  good  enter- 
ing wedges;  but  the  living  tongue  will  do  more  than  the 
pen."  I  told  him  I  was  ready  to  go  or  do  any  thing  I 
could  for  their  release,  but  still  hoped  to  hear  from  New 
Orleans.  I  would  wait  a  week  longer  and  rest.  Then,  if 
I  had  means,  I  would  go.  He  said  he  would  see  to  that, 
and  I  returned  to  my  home. 

Within  a  week  I  received  a  note  from  him,  stating  that 
he  had  just  received  a  letter  from  B.  F.  Wade,  requesting 
me  to  come  at  once  antl  bring  my  extracts  from  the  record 
I  had  examined  on  Ship  Island.  I  was  soon  on  my  way 
to  Detroit,  and  at  nine  o'clock,  A.  M.,  on  the  following 
day,  I  was  in  Captain  Ward's  office,  ready  to  take  the 
boat  for  Cleveland  on  my  way  t«)  Washington.  I  waited 
but  a  few  minutes  when  the  captain  came  in  with  a  letter, 
which  he  threw  in  my  lap,  saying,  "There  is  a  letter  for 
you  to  road."  The  first  sentence  was,  "The  exhibition  of 
these  letters  before  Secretary  Stanton  has  proved  sufficient. 
Judge  Attocha  was  dismissed  immediately,  and  a  committee 
is  to  l)e  appointed  to  investigate  and  release  those  prison- 
ers at  once.  There  is  therefore  no  necessity  for  Mrs.  Hav- 
i hind's  presence  on  that  score.  General  Tuttle  is  already 
relieved."  On  nading  these  glad  words,  I  remarked  that 
I  never  liad  Iniii  a  shouting  Methodist,  but  I  felt  more 
like  slioutir.g  over  tliose  gla*l  tidings  than  I  ever  had  done 
in  all  my  life.  If  1  had  not  been  spoiled  for  singing  by 
being  rai^^d  a  (Quaker,  I  would  have  sung  the  doxology. 

I  wrote  an  article  for  the  Detroit  Tribune  containing 
these  facts,  ami  slatting  the  prospects  of  the  immediate 
release  of  the  three  thousand  j.risoners  oc  Ship  Island  and 
Dry  Tortugas.  I  sent  the  pa|H>r  to  Captain  J.  Noyce,  and 
very  8<m)u  received  a  reply  tliat  my  lettei',  with  the  Tribune^ 
was  tlie  first  inliiuatiou  they  had  received  of  any  thing 
being  done  in  tluir  behalf  He  said,  *'I  sent  the  letter 
an<l  j)aiH'r  to  the  j)risoners,  and  they  eagerly  read  them  in 
all  tlK'ir  com|Minii',<,  initil   1   doubt   whether  a  whole  sen- 


RELEASE  OF   PRISONERS. 


359 


enter- 
ill  the 
ling  I 
I  Kew 

leii,  if 
)  that, 


tence  can  be  found  together."  A  few  weeks  later  I  received 
another  letter  from  Captain  Noyce,  in  which  he  stated 
that  the  committee  was  investigating,  and  that  but  one 
person  in  seventy-five  was  found  unworthy  of  being  released 
at  once;  but  that  very  soon  all  would  be  restored  to  their 
regiments. 


jg  that 

nesting 
record 

ly  way 

llowing 

ikc  the 
waited 

I  letter, 

itter  for 

)iti()n  of 

ifficicnt. 
nmitteo 
prison- 
s*.  Hav- 
already 
^^'d  that 
It  more 
ad  done 
ging  by 
)Xology. 
litaining 
I  mediate 
md  and 
jce,  and 
\Tribiine, 
ly  thing 
le  letter 
I  them  in 
lole  seu- 


1  • 


i  : 


i;l 

» 

* 

i 

4? 

<  '■  i 
i  •'  ■ 

:   i 

4i 

N 

w^ 


3G0 


A    woman's    LlFE-WiniK. 


*      I 


Chapter  XIII. 


FREEDMEN'S  AID  COMMISSION. 


'i  ! 


m  i 
I  f 


Our  Froedineu's  Aid  Conimissiou  wiis  enlarged  in  June, 
1804.  Dr.  George  Duffield  was  made  i)r('sident;  Drs. 
Hogarth  and  Chase,  vice-pre.sldeiit.s ;  David  Preston,  treas- 
urer; and  B.  C.  Durlbc,  secretary.  The  board  of  directors 
apj)oiuted  nie  its  agent,  and  allowed  me  a  salary  of  forty 
dollars  a  month.  This  is  the  first  remuneration  I  received 
/^  for  my  labors;  but  seeing  unfaithful  officers  dismissed, 
prisoners  released,  and  the  suffering  and  dying  relieved, 
was  a  satisfaction  far  exceeding  dollars  and  cents. 

I  received  invitations  to  address  congregations  in  largo 
towns,  where  nnich  was  done  in  gathering  supplies.  At  a 
Union  tlianksgiving  nieeting  in  Jackson,  $1)7  was  collected, 
and  at  a  similar  meeting  at  Grass  Lake,  the  same  <lay,  870; 
at  Luce's  Hall,  Grand  I\i»])ids,  $55 ;  at  Methodist  Kpisco 
pal  Church,  Poutiae,  $44;  and  at  Leoni  Wesleyan  Meth- 
odist Conference,  6()8.()5.  Many  other  liberal  donations 
were  also  received.  Auxiliaries  were  organized,  and  I 
prepared  to  return  to  the  field  of  desolation,  whither  duty 
sc(!med  to  be  loudly  calling  me.  I  concluded  to  suspend 
lliiisin  Institute  until  the  close  of  the  war.  I  received 
j)ropositions  from  a  number  of  graduates  of  the  IMichigan 
University  to  take  it  in  charge;  but  the  care  of  preparing 
for  another  academic  year  was  more  than  I  could  properly 
undertake,  and  do  justice  to  the  limitless  field  of  mission 
work  that  was  oi)en  before  us. 

In  September  I  had  a  car-load  of  supplies  ready,  and 
8400  in  money.  Of  this  amount,  8298  was  j)laced  in  my 
hands  by  friends  at  Adrian,  with  the  ncpiest  of  the  donors 
that  it  should  be  retained  iu  my  own  hands  for  disbursement 


I1KFITC3KI«   IN    KANSAS. 


361 


iiatiima 
and  I 
|r  duty 
iispcnd 
K'eived 
Ichijran 
paring 
mperly 
Inissiou 

ly,  and 

lin  my 
l<lonors 
Leiueut 


on  reaching  the  scene  of  suffering.  At  Cliicago  appeals  were 
made  to  llie  Soldiers'  Aid  Society  and  Christian  C"oiimii.<sion 
for  aid  in  the  freethnen's  department,  and  also  to  myself 
jursonally,  on  account  of  tlie  great  distress  in  Kansas  alter 
General  Price's  raid  through  Missouri,  followed  hy  Colonels 
liane  and  Jennison,  who  <lrove  thousands  of  poor  whites 
and  freedmen  into  that  young  State.  I  decided  to  hasten 
thither,  with  Mrs.  Lee,  of  Hillsdale,  as  an  assistant. 

At  Leavenworth  we  met  J.  R.  Brown,  half-brother  of 
Captain  John  Brown,  of  Ossawatomie,  who  had  charge 
of  both  white  refugees  and  freedmen  and  a  sort  of  soldiers* 
liome,  under  General  Curtis.  He  kindly  oflered  me  head- 
quarters in  Itis  establishment,  consisting  of  two  large  two- 
story  fniiue  buildings,  with  one  hundred  oceu])ants  each. 
I  called  on  General  Curtis,  who  telegraphed  for  my  goods 
to  be  forwarded  in  preference  to  other  army  supj)lies,  and 
gave  me  passes  through  the  State  to  Fort  Scott.  My  object 
was  to  investijiate  all  intermediate  towns  where  refui^ees 
and  freedmen  were  congregated.  lie  also  gave  me  liberty 
to  Mi^i'  an  order  he  had  given  J.  II.  Brown,  to  call  upon 
quarter-masters  for  half,  whole,  or  <|uarter  rations,  wherever 
Futieriug  for  food  existed.  Th(;se  investigations  enabled  me 
to  judge  of  the  amount  of  aid  needed  at  each  point. 

As  my  su[>plies  had  not  reached  me,  J.  11.  Brown  filled 
v)  two  large  trunks  with  sanitary  supplies  for  the  greatest 
sufferers.  Thus  supplied,  I  took  the  stage  for  Fort  Scott. 
^ly  first  halt  was  at  Quindaro,  a  small  town  built  on 
rocky  bluffs  and  in  deep  ravines.  A  few  years  previously 
it  was  (lesigned  by  a  few  speculators  to  be  an  important  land- 
ing on  the  Mississij)pi ;  and  they  built  a  few  stone  bouses,  a 
long  wood  storediouse,  and  a  nund)er  of  small  log-houses, 
which  had  been  left  untenanted,  but  Averc  now  filled  with 
white  refugees  and  freedmen.  A  large  majority  were 
women  and  children.  The  able-bodied  men  among  the 
freedmen  were  in  the  Union  army,  but  many  of  the  men 
whose  refugee  families  were  here  were  in  the  Confederate 

31 


( 


..■  H 


P:U 


3G2 


A    WO>fAN's    IJFR-WORK. 


'\  '  • 


[A'lS 


Vi  '' 


nnny.  noiicrul  Price  Imd  iiia<lf  fcrribic  Imvoc  of  nil  ulio 
\\vYi\  siKsjKctod  of  \)vm<f  favnr:il»l(>  to  ihc  Union.  Then 
followed  (Colonels  liiiiie  and  iIenni.«on,  who  niiide  fts  great 
havoc  ol'  the  remainder.  Those  who  lied  for  their  lives 
Avere  crowtled  into  every  niehe  of  uvailahle  room. 

In  one  open  htg-honse  I  lonnd  twenty-three  wretched 
inmates.  Four  of  them  were  women,  two  of  whom  were 
Kick  from  exi>osure  in  husking  corn  during  cold,  snowy 
weather.  Eight  of  the  children  had  the  measles,  and  three 
of  them  died  ;  two  others  seemed  near  death's  door.  Two 
women  W(Te  hauling  a  small  tree-top  to  their  <lo<)r  to  chop 
for  1 1  it'll t- wood.  The  feet  of  these  poor  women  were  ex- 
po.sed  to  the  mud  and  snow,  which  was  melting.  (),  what 
wpialid  wretchedness  was  here!  N()t  a  l)ed,  chair,  table, 
or  whole  dish  in  this  gloomy  alxule!  I  inipiired  how  they 
sle[>t.  I  was  shown  a  rag-carpet  on  the  fence,  which  they 
obtained  for  washing  for  one  of  the  neighbors.  This  was 
s])read  before  a  large  fire-place,  and  all  lay  <lown  ui)on  that 
but  two,  who  kei)t  up  the  fire,  and  watched  to  keep  those 
asleep  from  burning.  They  saitl  the  man  who  owned  the 
adjoining  wood-land  kindly  allowed  them  all  the  wood  they 
needed  that  was  on  the  ground.  They  borrowed  an  ax  to 
chop  it.  I  found  the  four  women  had  husked  corn  on 
shares  until  two  were  sick  with  pneumonia;  and  the  corn, 
boiled  without  salt,  was  all  they  had  to  eat  during  the  five 
weeks  they  had  been  there.  Now  they  were  nearly  out, 
and  what  to  do  thev  knew  not,  as  thev  were  forbidden  to 
go  into  into  the  fieh^  to  husk  more.  I  made  out  an  order 
for  rations,  and  measured  their  bare  feet  for  shoes  and 
stockings.  I  took  one  of  the  women  to  the  post-office, 
whore  1  bad  left  my  trunks,  and  gave  her  four  army- 
blank(>ts,  six  knit  woolen  socks,  f\\  pail's  of  drawers,  four 
j)airs  of  stockings,  and  two  pairs  of  shoes,  which  were  all  I 
had  to  fit  them.  As  I  piled  the  above  articles  upon  tlu; 
shoulders  and  arms  of  the  ])oor  woman  she  wept  for  joy. 

The  postmaster  .«aid,  "  Is  this  your  business  here?" 


riinj>uf:N'  of  want. 


^03 


ill  who 

Tlien 

3  great 

ir  \\\i'i 


retched 
tn  were 
snowy 
k1  threc! 
'.     1  wo 
to  ch()|) 
vore  ex- 
0,  whiit 
r,  table, 
()W  they 
ich  they 
rhls  was 
)i)\\  that 
cp  those 
iu'<l  the 
)0(l  they 
m  ax  to 
ciirn  on 
|he  eoni, 
the  five 
rly  out, 
(hleii  to 
n  order 
oes  and 
t -office, 
r  arniy- 
'rs,  iom* 
lere  all  I 
l)on  tlio 
r  joy. 
■e?" 


On  receiving  nn  afllnnative  r('j)ly,  he  snid,  with  tcur- 
fid  eye : 

"To-morrow  morning  tlie  ground  will  be  frozen,  and  I 
will  go  with  y(»u  where  the  most  of  these  poor  {n'ople  arc." 

I  jtrocured  lodging  with  u  widow  Johnson  and  her  son, 
who  wiw  with  Captain  John  Brown's  party  all  through  the 
l)order- ruffian  troubles.  My  kind  friend  regretted  my 
having  made  the  mile  and  a  half  walk  to  the  log-house  in 
the  field  and  l)a(;k  to  the  pout-office  before  supper,  as  I  had 
not  taken  refreshments  since  leaving  Leavenworth,  very 
earlv.  But  when  I  told  her  of  tlu^  distress  I  found,  she 
rejoiced  with  mc  at  the  partial  relief  I  had  fiveii  them. 

After  a  good  rest  and  an  early  breakl'ast,  I  went  with 
the  kind  iwstmastcr  to  visit  the  most  wretched  tenements  of 
both  white  and  colored,  and  fi)und  eighty-one  to  rej)ort  for 
rations  to  the  commander  in  Wyandotte.  The  postmaster 
and  Mr.  Johnson  agreed  to  go  with  their  team  every  wc^ek 
and  distribute  to  the  destitute;  and  if  others  were  found 
equally  needy  they  would  report  them  to  me  on  my  return. 
After  descending  steep  cliffs  and  climbing  ruirged  rocks 
until  past  noon,  we  returned  for  dinner;  but  before  it  was 
finished  the  stage  came  aloii<4,  and  I  took  it  for  Wvan- 
dotte,  where  we  arrived  late  in  the  evening.  The  weather 
for  October  was  cold,  and  freezing  <juite  hard. 

When  I  informed  Mrs.  Ilalford,  the  landlady  of  the 
Garno  House,  of  my  errand,  she  was  nuich  ])leased,  and 
said  that  hor  duties  forbrtdi;  her  to  assist  me,  l)iit  slio 
would  do  her  i)art  in  giving  me  a  welcome  home  while  in 
their  town.  She  intnxliiced  me  to  a  family  of  benevolent 
ladies,  who  promised  to  aid  me  in  my  investigations,  but 
(lid  not  think  I  would  find  the  suffering  in  their  city  that  I 
found  iu  Qnindaro.  One  of  my  new  friends  went  with  mc 
to  a  neighljorhood  where  tiiere  were  now  tirrivals,  and 
found  many  in  a  perisldng  (•.indiLino  wiiii  cold  and  hun- 
ger. From  thence  we  went  to  old  stables  and  sheds  crowded 
with  destitute  human  I    "         >     >      '•  '      >       ,      r^. 


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304 


A.   WOJfAN's   LIFE-WORK. 


dear  friend  who  volunteered  to  guide  to  these  children  of 
want  wei)t  herself  sick  as  we  listened  to  the  stories  of  their 
flight  from  iionies  in  jNlissouri  and  Arkansas.  Here  was  a 
woman,  named  Melinda  Dale,  with  six  small  children  and 
a  sick  husband,  who  had  to  flee  for  their  lives.  A  few 
pieces  of  old  tent-cloth,  picked  up  about  an  old  camp,  made 
their  bed.  Children  were  crying  for  bread,  the  mother 
was  sick  with  grief,  and  the  father  had  a  high  fever.  A 
blanket  was  given  them,  with  a  few  loaves  of  bread  ;  and 
after  the  reading  of  Scripture  and  prayer  we  left  for  the 
relief  of  others. 

Our  next  call  was  upon  the  wife  and  five  small  children 
of  Lieutenant  INIiller,  who  was  supposed  to  be  in  a  rebel 
prison.  The  wife  was  in  great  distress,  not  knowing 
whether  her  husband  was  living  or  perishing  by  starvation. 
lie  was  taken  prisoner  one  year  before,  and  she  and  her 
children  were  in  a  starving  condition.  They  occupied  an 
old  Sibley  tent.  These  were  also,  with  many  others,  re- 
ported for  rations,  and  immediate  relief  was  given.  A  few 
weeks  previously  '"ations  were  withheld,  vhich  caused  great 
sufiering  with  many.  I  gave  rations  to  lia.-bara  Stewart, 
with  two  sick,  children,  whose  husband  was  murdered  by 
guerillas  because  he  was  known  to  be  a  Union  man.  I  next 
called  on  Green  F.  Bethel,  who  left  his  Arkansas  home 
with  a  large  family,  consisting  of  his  wife,  nine  children, 
and  aged  mother.  All  except  himself  were  taken  down  with 
the  measles,  soon  after  passing  through  Fort  Scott.  His 
mother  soon  died,  and  was  buried  by  the  way-side.  A  day 
later  his  wife  and  infant  child  died,  and  were  also  buried 
by  the  way.  Not  long  after  the  last  three  children  died, 
and  were  also  buried  by  the  road-side.  He  said,  "  O, 
what  sorrow  was  mine !  One-half  of  my  family  are  gone ! 
The  light  of  my  household  seemed  vanishing!  Were  it 
not  for  the  help  of  my  Lord  I  should  have  fainted  under 
this  sweeping  affliction.  My  wife  and  niother  were  Chris- 
tians many  years.     We  were  members  of  the  Cumberland 


AN   AFFLICTED    FAMILY. 


365 


II" 


(Ireii  of 
of  their 
•c  was  a 
rcn  and 

A  few 
p,  made 

mother 
ver.  A 
ad  ;  and 

for  the 

children 
1  a  rebel 
knowing 
arvation. 
and  her 
;upicd  an 
thers,  rc- 
A  few 
scd  great 
Stewart, 
ered  hy 
I  next 
;as  home 
children, 
own  with 
)tt.     Hi3 
A  day 
o  buried 
'cn  died, 
id,   "O, 
re  gone ! 
Were  it 
hI  under 
Chris- 
iberlaud 


Presbyterian  Church."     We  found  the  poor  man  in  a  hard 
chilL     It  came  on  every  third  day,  and  was  followed  with 
high  fever.     The  two  intervening  days  he  was  able  to  use 
his  team  in   little  jobs  of  hauling,  and   thus  he   kept   his 
children  and  team  alive.     I  inquired  why  he  did  not  make 
his  condition  known  to  the  citizens  of  that  town.     lie  said 
no  one  knew  any  thing  about  him,  and  there  were  so  many 
making  pretensions  to  loyalty   who  were  not  loyal,   that 
none  would   know  but  ho  was  of  that  class.     "  jNIy  wife's 
brother,"  he  said,  "came  with  his  family  when  we  did,  and 
he  also  lost  u' j  wife  on  the  way,  following  the  Union  sol- 
diers.    Our  lives  were  threatened,  and  the  rope  was  jjlacod 
around  my  neck  once,  but  by  the  entreaties  of   my  wiie 
and  childien  the  rebels  concluded  to  let  me  go  a  day  or 
two  longer;  then  if  I  would  not  join  with  them  in  sup- 
porting the  Confederate  government,  I  was  to  be  hung  or 
shot.      The  same  threat  was  made  to  my  brother-in-law, 
and  we  hid  in  the  woods  three  weeks,  before  we  left  in 
the  night  for  the  lines  of  the  Union  soldiers.     We  started 
with   two  wagons,  and  had   nine  horses  and  three  cows. 
But  they  gave  out  one  after  another,  and  we  had  to  leave 
them  all  on  the  way,  except  the  youngest  and  best  team, 
which  I  have  yet.     I  have  a  good  farm,  and  so  has  my 
brother-in-law ;  but  if  we  are  ever  })ermitted  to  return  to 
n\\r  homes,  it  is  doubtful  whether  we  shall  find  a  building 
left." 

He  wept  freely,  as  well  as  his  children.  The  oldest 
daughter.  Amy,  of  seventeen,  leaned  her  head  upon  my 
Bhoulder,  and  wept  aloud.  She  said,  "  ^\''e  could  all  bear 
this  furnace  of  affliction  much  better  if  our  dear  mother 
had  been  spared  us." 

"With  prayer  we  left  this  hou^^c  of  mourning,  with  a  re- 
quest for  the  afflicted  brother  to  call  at  h(>ad-quarters  for 
the  rations  I  should  report  for  the  six  in  his  family.  Said 
he,  on  taking  the  parting  hand,  "One  favor  I  ask  of  you, 
my  dear  sister;  and  that  is,  your  continued  prayers  that 


f  Id    1 


''  '  y 


'I 


tin 


i^' 


m 


1 

'     ^   1 

! 

.     i 

1  .     ' 

1 

■;                      1 
I 

1 

i'l 


36G 


A  woman's  mfp>work. 


the  Lord  may  open  a  way  for  us  where   there  now  seems 
to  be  no  way." 

My  friend  who  served  as  guide  said,  "My  head  aches 
with  weeping,  in  witnessing  these  heart-rending  scenes.  I 
must  dcchne  going  with  you  farther  this  afternoon.  I 
shall  be  obliged  to  take  my  bed.  I  do  not  see  how  you 
live,  as  you  meet  similar  scenes  so  frequently." 

These  visits  made  us  quite  late  for  dinner,  but  my  kind 
hostess  kept  it  waiting  for  me.  With  interest,  she  sat  by 
my  side  to  listen  to  a  report  of  my  morning  calls.  She 
was  surprised  to  learn  of  so  much  sufleriug  near  them. 
After  dinner  I  resumed  my  work.  On  my  way  I  met  a 
Avoman  shivering  in  an  ague  chill,  thinly  clad,  and  weeping. 
1  in(]uired  for  the  cause  of  her  grief.  She  said  she  had 
been  hunting  for  washing  or  something  to  do,  to  purchase 
l)read  for  her  three  little  children,  for  they  had  had  noth- 
ing to  eat  for  a  whole  day.  I  told  her  I  would  call  on 
her  before  night.  I  found  a  number  in  as  great  distress 
as  in  my  nKjrning  calls.  One  man,  who  lost  his  wife, 
leaving  him  with  six  small  children,  had  found  work  six  miles 
away;  but  he  returned  at  night  to  care  for  his  little  ones. 
The  oldest  child,  ten  years  of  age,  was  left  during  the  day 
in  charge  of  the  five  younger  ones.  For  the  sake  of  fur- 
nishing bread  for  his  children,  he  walked  the  twelve  miles 
back  and  forth  daily.  I  found  the  woman  whom  I  had  met 
on  the  street  in  a  hifrh  fever,  with  an  infant  of  einrht  monnths 
in  her  arms,  and  two  of  her  children  crying  for  bread.  I 
took  them  a  few  loaves,  and  gave  her  an  order  for  rations. 
The  husband  had  been  pressed  into  service  when  they  had 
been  but  two  weeks  from  home,  and  was  not  allowed  to  see 
his  wife  and  children  to  say  good  bye.  She  had  heard  noth- 
ing from  him  since.  In  the  corner  lay  a  crippled  dis- 
charged colored  soldier,  who  was  also  suffering  for  food. 
I  stepped  into  a  grocery  and  purchased  sugar  and  crackers 
for  the  sick  and  for  the  children. 

My  next  call  was  on  another  woman  with  six  children. 


AGNES    EVKUKTT. 


367 


seems 


aches 


Her  husband  had  been  in  the  army  a  long  time,  and  slie 
had  not  heanl  from  him.  She  feared  he  was  sufleriuj;  in 
a  rebel  j)risou.  Near  this  cabin  was  Agnes  Everett,  witii 
five  children  between  the  ages  of  fifteen  months  and  twelve 
years.  Her  two  youngest  children  were  in  a  starving  con- 
dition— the  baby,  she  said,  luul  been  too  sick  to  allow  her 
to  do  much  in  procuring  food.  Her  boy  of  twelve  years 
was  her  only  dependence  in  getting  little  jobs  of  wood- 
sawing  or  doing  chores  for  cokl  victuals,  or  a  pint  of  nieal 
which  she  made  into  jwrridge.  The  little  emaciated  bal)y 
was  fed  with  the  porridge.  Its  face  was  wrinkled  like  an 
old  person's  of  ninety  years.  Its  eyes  were  sunken  and 
glassy;  its  hands  looked  more  like  birds'  claws  than  liko 
human  hands.  "Don't,  Clarkic;  poor  little  Fannie  is  so 
sick  .she  must  have  this,"  .said  the  mother  to  the  little  fel- 
low who  watched  the  mother  wlicu  her  attention  was  occu- 
pied for  a  chance  to  snatch  a  floating  lumn.  As  I  looked 
upon  these  famishing  children  I  could  not  refrain  fnjui 
weeping.  Her  husband  and  grown  sou  were  in  the  army. 
She  hatl  been  looking  for  money  from  them  for  a  number 
of  mouths,  but  had  hoard  nothing  from  them.  I  gave 
them  two  loaves  of  bread  for  their  supper,  and  directed 
them  to  meet  me  at  the  post-ofhcc  the  next  day  at  ten 
o'clock  A.  M.,  and  I  would  give  her  an  order  for  six 
half  rations  until  she  received  hc'p  from  her  husband. 
This  clo.sed  my  day's  work.  On  my  return  to  the  Garno 
House,  Mrs.  Ilalford  informed  me  that  the  lady  who  went 
with  me  in  the  morning  was  sick,  for  she  had  hardly 
ceased  wecj^ing  over  those  i)itiful  families  we  visited  in  the 


morning. 


At  the  time  appointed  I  met  a  number  at  the  post- 
ofTice,  anjong  wliom  was  Agnes  Everett,  to  receive  orders 
for  half,  quarter,  or  whole  rations,  and  gave  out  a  few 
articles  of  clothing.  As  I  gave  Agnes  the  order  for  rations 
I  charged  her  strictly  to  give  the  two  younger  cliildren  no 
strong  food  for  a  few  days,  but  only  a  little  at  a  time  and 


Nl 


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A    WOMAN'S    I-irE-WOIilC. 


1!   I    J 


r  ■!" 


oflni,  ospociiilly  the  youngest,  us  it  would  live  but  a  few 
hours  if  she  allowed  it  to  eat  all  it  craved.     A  number  of 
geutleiMtMi  listcntd  to  niy  charge,  and  as  the  little  group 
left  the  oflice   one  of  them  inquired  where   I  was  from. 
With  my  reply  I  gave  them  my  papers  from  the  governor 
and  members  of  Congress  of  Michigan.     After  reading  they 
introduced  themselves, —  Dr.  Wood,   Dr.   Hpcck,    Lawyer 
James,  and  others.     Dr.  Speck  informed  me  of  a  family 
whose  youngest  child  actually  starved  to  death  three  days 
before.     He  was  called  when  it  was  dying,  but  too  late  to 
save   it.     He  said,  "There    were  two  other  families  who 
would  have  died  soon  if  the  citizens  had  not  rendered  the  ai'i 
needed;  and  there^  would  have  been  another  death  by  star- 
vation before  we  should  have  known  it,  here  in  our  midst, 
l)ut  it  t(jok  you  to  come  from  i\Iichigan  to  find  it  out.'' 
Lawyer  James  said  there  was  a  family  on  the  hill  opposite 
the  ferry  he  would  like  to  see  visited,  ])ut  there  were  so 
many  crowding  in  here  of  late  that  it  seemed  as  if  they 
liad  done  all  they  possibly  could.     They  were  rejoiced  to 
learn  of  the  liberty  granted   by  General  Curtis  to  issue 
orders  for  rations.     Said  Dr.  Wood,  "The  freedmen   arc 
seeking  for  work,  no  matter  what  kind,   but  the  white 
refugees  are  the  most  do-nothing  set  I  ever  saw."     While 
I  acknowledged  his  position  true  in  most  cases,  yet  there 
Avere  noble  exceptions,  and  I  mentione<l  the  Bethel  family 
and  stated  their  condition.     One  gentleman  said  he  would 
look  after  that  family.     In  confirmation  of  his  remarks  I 
told  of  a  family  of  poor  whites  in  Quindaro  who  weie  asked 
to  assist  a  neighbor  in  sickness.     As  there  were  the  mother 
afid  two  grown  daughters,  it  was  supposed  one  of  them 
could  be  secured  a  few  days  with  the  promise  of  provisions 
or  money;  but  the  mother  contemptuously  tossed  her  head 
to  one  side  and  drawled  out  the  reply,  "I  reckcm  we  hain't 
come  down  so  low  yet  as  to  work."     I  told  them  they  must 
come  up  high  enough  to  work  before  I  could  do  any  thing 
for  them,  and  left  them  to  sit  in  their  own  fdth  and  rags. 


i-  ! 


Ql'ANTREIj/s    RAID. 


:M>d 


V 


My  order  from  Onicral  Curtis  was  to  rojiort  nono  for 
rations  Avho  conld  ol)tain  work  for  wages.  I  ])nss(>(l  on  to 
other  scenes  of  sorrow  too  nunieroiis  to  narnitc  Iicre. 

One  hundred  and  four  rations  I  ordered  in  Wyandotte. 
This  timely  relief  given,  I  crossed  the  river,  and  in  Kansas 
City,  Missouri,  met  brother  Cojieland  and  wife,  who  were 
efficient  agents  and  teachers  in  that  field.     I  secured  a  j)ass 
to  Lawrei.ce,  where,  late  in  the  evening,  I  was  directed  to 
a  family  that  had  suffered  much  in  the  Union  cause.     This 
was    the    important    stamping    ground    of   Captain    John 
Brown.     This  city  had  jjasscd  through  two  terrible  raids 
during  the  war.     It  is  hero  that   Quantrell   rushed   upon 
the  unsuspecting  citizens  with  a  host  of  Confederate  soldiers 
about  daylight,  and  murdered  men  at  their  own  doors,  and 
Avhen  they  could  not  call  them  out  they  rushed  into  their 
houses  and  made  terrible  havoc  of  human  life.     There  was 
a  woman  here  who  was  a  .sjjy.     She  had  been  in  the  city 
a  few  weeks  taking  horse-back  rides  two  hours  each  morn- 
ing, ostensibly  for  her  health,  but  probably  to  report  the 
most  favorable  time  for  attack.     She  was  never  .'(een  after 
the  raid.     I  attended   the  Methodist   Episcopal  Church, 
where   seventy    wounded,   dying,  and    dead   soldiers  and 
citizens   were  brought  in   after  that  raid.      The  stains  of 
bl(K)d  were  still  left  on  the  floor  and  some  of  the  seats. 

The  house  where  I  was  kindly  invited  to  make  my 
hcunc  was  entered,  and  the  owner,  brother  Ilockins,  was 
demanded.  His  wife  told  them  she  saw  him  run  up  the 
liill  a  few  moments  before,  which  Avas  true;  but  on  seeing 
the  Confederate  soldiers  entering  the  town  he  hastened 
back  to  his  house  and  ran  down  to  the  cellar.  A  sipiad 
of  them  entered  and  placed  the  bayonet  at  his  wife,  and 
threatened  her  life  if  she  did  not  tell  tb.e  whereabouts  of 
her  husband;  but  she  persisted  in  ])ointing  up  the  hill. 
They  went  down  the  cellar,  but  returned  without  finding 
him,  and  set  the  house  ou  fire.  Then  they  ran  up  the  hill 
after  him.     She  succeeded  iu  putting  out  the  fire,  and  went 


ll^ 


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A    woman's    I.IFK-WOllK. 


into  the  cellar  and  called  her  husband.  Ho  answered  from 
between  tlie  cartli  and  the  floor.  This  was  his  hidinj^-placo 
until  the  Union  soldicjrs  rescued  tlie  city  from  further 
trouble.     A  stronj^  Union  force  was  ]iow  kept  at  this  jioint. 

I  found  fewer  t  ifl'ering  for  want  of  rations  at  this  town 
than  in  other  places  I  had  visited,  and  took  the  sUige  for 
Fort  Scott.  We  wore  advised  to  keej)  out  of  sight  any 
appearance  of  watches  or  any  sort  of  jewelry,  as  guerrillas 
■were  sometimes  lurking  in  the  woods  and  attacked  the 
stages.  AVe  came  in  sight  of  Indians  on  horses  who  darted 
into  the  wckmIs,  fearing  we  were  guerrillas,  who  had  stolen 
or  robbed  them  of  their  ponies.  One  man  shouted,  "We 
are  all  for  the  Union."  This  was  on  Price's  track,  where 
they  lost  their  horses,  and  did  not  dare  ccmie  in  sight. 

Late  at  night  Ave  reached  Fort  Scott.  My  first  call  was 
on  Colonel  l>lair,  commander  of  the  post,  who,  with  his  v^ife, 
kindly  oflcred  me  a  home  with  tliem  while  I  remained  at 
that  point.  They  introduced  me  to  Dr.  Slocum,  who  gave 
a  sketch  of  tlie  terrible  destitution  of  the  forty  thousand 
refugees  and  freedmen,  who  passed  through  this  great 
thoroughfare.  jNIany  of  them  had  stopped  here.  He  took 
me  to  a  number  of  the  destitute  families,  and  gave  direc- 
tions to  others,  and  left  me  to  my  work.  Here  Avas  a  great 
mmiber  of  the  poor  whites,  called  "Clay-caters,"  who 
complained  about  government  dealing  r'ltions  to  colored 
people.  I  heard  one  of  them  say  that  "if  niggers  would 
Btay  where  they  belonged,  with  their  masters,  they  would 
have  more  white-bread  and  beef."  I  told  them,  I  had 
learned  that  many  of  their  husbands  were  fighting  against 
the  government  while  the  husbands  of  many  of  the  col- 
ored women  were  fighting  to  sustain  it,  and  I  should  favor 
those  who  wore  on  the  side  of  the  government.  I  asked 
them  why  they  did  not  themselves  remain  in  their  old 
homes?  "We  came  'case  our  men  was  conscripted,"  they 
said.  One  woman  and  her  daughter  of  eighteen  had  each 
a  filthy,  ragged  bcdquilt  over  her  shoulders,  and  their  faces 


"  rOOn  AVIIITK  TRASTI.'* 


371 


were  so  Kv^arthy  that  their  eyes  and  teeth  presented  as 
great  a  contrast  as  those  whose  natural  skin  was  of  chirker 
hue.  As  the  Httlc  boy  of  four  years  liad  no  shoes,  and  I 
liad  a  pair  left  that  would  fit  him,  1  told  the  mother  to 
Wiish  his  feet  and  try  them.  "Sal,  bring  nw,  that  cup 
thar,"  said  the  woman.  Their  drinking  cup  with  water 
was  brought.  "Ilan'  me  that  rag  tliar,"  and  -fhc  wet  her 
hand  and  wet  the  feet,  and  was  wiping  off  the  mud,  when 
I  told  her  they  were  not  washed;  to  look  at  the  mud  ou 
the  botton  of  his  feet  and  between  his  toes.  "0,  yez'm," 
she  drawled  out,  and  wet  one  end  of  the  rag  in  the  cup, 
and  made  a  second  eff()rt.  AVhcn  the  shoes  were  put  ou, 
he  could  not  walk  without  holding  to  his  mother  or  sister. 
They  were  probably  the  first  he  had  ever  had. 

]\Iost  of  the  day  was  spent  in  visiting  this  class  of  per- 
sons— the  most  ignorant,  listless,  and  degraded  of  any  peo- 
ple I  had  ever  met.  On  giving  a  description  of  the  igno 
rancc  and  filth  of  the  poor  Avhites  I  called  on,  Colonel 
lilair  inquired  "What  would  you  do  with  them?" 

"I  would  keep  body  and  soul  together  till  Spring  opens," 
I  answered,  "and  then  load  up  your  great  army  wagons, 
and  take  them  out  upon  the  rich  prairies  and  dump  them 
out,  giving  them  the  homely  adage,  'Root,  pig,  or  die.'" 

The  greatest  difficulty  in  managing  this  class  was  to  get 
them  to  do  any  thing.  Not  so  with  colored  people ;  they 
Avould  do  any  thing  they  could  find  to  do. 

I  found  in  this  camp  of  two  thousand,  a  colored  woman 
of  an  earnest  Christian  principle.  Colonel  Blair  gave  her 
an  excellent  character.  He  said  that  I  might  place  implicit 
confidence  in  any  statement  she  w  aid  make.  Her  history 
was  a  novel  one.  She  ran  away  from  a  cruel  master  to 
the  Indians,  and  married  an  old  Indian,  and  had  four  chil- 
dren. She  said  her  husband  came  in  great  excitement  and 
asked  her  if  she  wanted  to  run  away  to  the  Yankees?  She 
said  no,  because  she  thought  they  were  another  tribe  of 
Indians.     He  ran  out,  and  soon  came  back,  and  said,  "If 


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A  woman's  likk-work. 


you  run,  go  quick.  I  .im  old;  tlioy  can  't  rob  nic  of  many 
days,  but  tlioy  sba'  n't  buvc  the  children  to  puni.-;li."  He 
threw  thcin  on  a  horse  and  ran  oil'  into  the  woods.  81io 
supposed  her  old  master  had  found  her  out,  and  ran  an- 
other way.  Then  she  heard  that  her  husband  was  dead. 
But  the  Lord  hid  her  from  the  cruel  master,  thougli  ho 
broke  u])  her  family. 

After  spending  three  days  in  this  ]>lace,  including  Sun- 
day, 1  took  the  jNIonday  morning  stage  f(»r  Jx-avcnwortb. 
In  sending  packages  to  all  these  i)laces,  to  reliable  friends 
with  whom  J  had  made  ac(|uaintance,  I  requested  that  no 
chjthing  be  given  to  healthy  men  and  women  who  refused 
to  do  work  wheu  they  could  get  it. 

In  one  of  the  bospitals  at  Leavenworth  were  two  Con- 
federates, one  of  whom  lunl  recently  become  a  Christian. 
lie  said  when  he  went  into  this  army  he  knew  not  for 
what  they  were  fighting,  but  when  he  learned  the  real 
cause,  he  was  for  the  Union,  and  should  do  all  be  could 
for  it. 

During  the  month  of  December,  we  relieved  four  hun- 
dred and  forty-four  families.  There  were  thirty  childreu 
in  Ixjth  buildings  under  my  care. 

By  rctjuest  of  J.  R.  Brown,  the  Frecdmen's  Aid  Com- 
mission of  Michigan  consented  to  allow  me  to  take  charge 
of  white  refugees  in  connection  with  the  freedmen.  Gen- 
eral Curtis  detailed  a  sergeant  for  my  assistant.  Another 
important  helper  was  a  uoble  young  woman,  Amanda  A. 
Way,  who  opened  a  school  for  children  of  inmates  of  the 
two  buildings.  I  found  it  difficult  to  bring  into  school  the 
white  children,  and  only  by  a  requisition  could  I  accom- 
plish it,  or  Induce  the  mothers  to  wash  the  hands  and  faces, 
and  comb  the  hair  of  their  children,  to  fit  them  for  school. 
This,  like  all  previous  fields  of  army  mission  work,  was 
a  laborious  one.  Our  Sundays  were  spent  in  teaching  a 
large  class  in  three  Sabbath -schools,  besides  attending  the 
public  services  and  generally  taking  part  iu  them.     At  the 


81io 


SUPPLIES  DISTRIBUTED. 


373 


close  of  one  of  tlio  iiioetings,  ;i  doaoon  and  liis  wife  ruslictl 
through  the  crowd  to  me,  and  <iavc  t^uch  an  exhibition  of 
joy  that  it  drew  the  attention  of  tlic;  eonurcpition.  lie 
gave  a  glowing  account  of  my  vi.sit  to  Little  Kock,  Arkan- 
sas, and  of  my  life-long  work  for  their  dowu-tnKlden  peo- 
ple. The  hand-!r-haking  for  half  an  hour  made  my  iiands 
lame  fur  three  days.  Tiie  deacon  bought  himself  when  a 
young  man,  and  accjuired  a  property  worth  four  thousand 
dollars.  .Slave-holders  often  said  that  he  knew  too  much, 
and  thought  he  was  a  damage  to  their  slaves.  If  they 
lost  any,  they  charged  him  with  aiding  them  away.  He 
was  often  lodged  in  jail  and  fines  imposed  upon  him.  At 
length  he  sold  his  j)rop('rty  at  half  its  value  to  come  to 
Kansas,  where  he  could  breathe  freclv. 

On  New  Year's  day  I  found  a  poor  woman  in  the  last 
stages  of  consumption.  She  could  not  speak  a  loud  word. 
I  hired  another  poor  woman  to  care  for  her,  by  giving  bed 
and  wearing  clothes  for  herself  and  children.  I  left  them 
in  tears,  saying,  "  We  thank  you,  honey,  and  praise  God. 
AVhen  my  poor  mother  died  in  that  old  out-ticllar,  neither 
father  nor  one  of  us  was  j)ermitted  to  give  her  a  cup  of 
cold  water,  but  the  last  words  she  was  heard  to  say  was, 
'I'm  going  home  to  die  no  more.'" 

I  visited  ten  families  and  sent  four  boxes  more  of  sup- 
plies to  Fort  Scott.  The  next  day  I  took  a  barrel  of  hos- 
l)ital  supplies  to  Fort  Leavenworth. 

INIy  supplies  were  now  low,  and  the  money  nearly  spent. 
I  received  a  letter  from  the  chairman  of  the  committee 
having  charge  of  preparations  for  the  Ladies'  State  Freed- 
nien's  Fair,  to  be  held  in  Detroit,  soliciting  relics  of  the 
war.  J.  R.  Brown  proposed  that  I  sliould  attend  the  fair 
and  take  his  brother's  sharp-shooter,  that  the  captain  car- 
ried through  the  border-ruffian  conflict  in  Kansas,  and 
during  his  movement  at  Harper's  Ferry.  After  a  few  days' 
reflection  I  reached  the  conclusion  to  go.  General  Curtis 
gave  me  a  pass  to  Detroit  and  return. 


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iK      £. 

The  John  Browu  gun  created  much  interest  Besides 
this  relic,  tiie  fifty  (jouikIs  of  Hhivc-irons,  whicli  we  picked 
up  on  deserted  piuiitations  in  the  far  South,  were  exhibited 
in  this  fair.  A  j)ctition  from  Lenawee  County  was  sent  to 
the  committee  having  charge  of  tlic  fair,  to  place  the 
avails  of  our  county,  one  thousand  dollars,  in  my  hands 
for  distribution.  This  money  relieved  much  suffering,  and 
no  doubt  saved  many  lives. 

During  my  visit  home  I  sold  Raisin  Institute  and  ton 
^  acres  of  land,  with  an  excellent  orchard,  to  the  State 
Freedmen's  Aid  Commission  for  an  orj)hans'  home.  I  do- 
nated three  hundred  dollars  of  the  purchase  money  to  this 
enterprise,  stipulating  that  the  premises  were  to  be  used 
for  no  other  purpose.  In  my  absence  the  friends  gave 
the  asvlum  the  name  of  "  Ilaviland  Home  for  Homeless 
and  Dcstituto  Children."  This  home  I  intended  as  a  nu- 
cleus for  a  State  Orphan  Asylum,  as  the  war  had  increased 
the  necessity  for  such  an  institution. 

After  two  weeks'  absence  I  returned  with  supplies. 
Spring  was  lessening  the  suflering,  yet  sickness  from  long  ex- 
posures still  prevailed.  jMiss  Fidelia  Fhillips,  a  teacher, 
came  with  a  letter  from  the  Michigan  Freedmen's  Aid 
Commission,  for  us  to  locate  and  secure  board,  which  duty 
fell  upon  me.  I  hired  a  conveyance  and  took  her  to  Oska- 
loosa,  Jeflcrson  County,  and  found  board  for  her  in  the 
kind  family  of  Dr.  J.  Nelson,  who  jiroposed  to  assist  the 
colored  people  in  securing  a  house  for  the  school  at  once. 

I  found  liere  a  poor  sick  woman  with  her  five  children, 
■who  was  ordered  out  of  her  cabin,  as  she  could  no  longer 
pay  the  rent.  Dr.  Nelson  promised  to  see  that  she  was 
not  disturbed  until  she  was  able  to  be  moved,  when  he 
would  take  the  family  to  Leavenworth  to  go  with  me  to 
our  Home  for  Homeless  Children  in  Michigan.  Her  hus- 
band was  in  the  army,  and  she  had  not  heard  from  hira 
since  he  enlisted.  On  my  return  to  Leavenworth  I  re- 
ceived an  order  from  our  Freedmen's  Aid  Commission,  to 


THE   RKFU«KK    HIJIM)IXGH. 


375 


he 

le  to 

hus- 

him 

■L  re- 

to 


send  twenty-five  cliiMivn  with  five  mothers  to  nssist  in  ear- 
ing fur  them.  I  aceoinpanicd  th(Mn  as  far  as  Qiiiney,  IIH- 
nois,  with  Mrs.  Lee  and  a  teacher  who  had  lK>en  in  tho 
work  a  few  months.  They  pursued  their  jiturney,  and  I 
went  hack 

On  April  15th  tho  sad  news  readied  us  of  the  assas- 
sination of  President  Lineohi!  A  nation  in  nionrninj,'! 
{J)     Every  house  of  any  note  or  si/.e  was  draped  with  hhick. 

We  were  now  preparin<^  to  eh)sc  the  two  rcfujxee  huikl- 
iugs  hefore  k-aving  for  jMiehigan.  I  offered  the  women  tho 
best  dresses  for  fuiding  tlieir  own  ])lae('s  for  work,  and  by 
this  means  many  found  places,  if  only  to  work  for  their 
board  till  they  could  do  bettcir.  A  yood  old  woman  wo 
called  Aunt  Phoebe  came  to  us  with  her  four  grandchil- 
dren, and  begged  to  go  to  Michigan  with  me.  She  said 
the  f../iier  of  the  children  ran  away  to  enlist  in  the  army, 
and  his  master  followed  him.  After  an  al^sencc  of  threo 
days,  he  returned  with  the  report  that  he  had  got  sight  at 
him,  and  ordered  him  to  come  to  him,  but  he  refused,  and 
he  shot  him  dead.  At  this  report  his  'wife  (the  daughter 
of  Aunt  Phreb(>),  gave  a  scream  and  faiated.  Both  mas- 
ter and  mistress  were  very  severe,  and  whipped  her  severely 
for  making  so  much  fuss,  as  they  called  her  grief.  >Sho 
sank  under  their  severity,  and  died,  leaving  her  infant,  a 
•  week  old,  with  her  mother.  Within  a  few  days  the  oldest 
boy  was  taken  with  small-pox,  but  as  ho  was  not  very  near 
the  other  sick  children,  Dr.  Carpenter  thought  the  others 
■would  escape.  I  rolled  him  in  a  couple  of  quilts  and  sent 
him  to  the  pest-house.  Aunt  Ph(el)e  wept  bitterly,  as  she 
said  she  should  j)robably  never  see  Jerry  again,  and  ho 
was  such  a  good  boy  to  help  her  take  care  of  the  other 
children.  A  few  days  later  she  was  taken  with  a  low  type 
of  lunir  fever.  I  had  one  of  the  colored  women  in  tho 
l)lace  nurse  her. 

The  white  refugee  women  took  but  little  notice  of  my 
offer  of  best  dresses,  in  finding  homes  for  themselves.     I 


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found  these  women  of  the  lowest  ehins  of  humanity.  I 
called  on  General  Curtis,  and  told  him  I  had  expended 
my  fund  of  leeturing  material  u])on  these  white  women  in 
the  refugee  building,  and  now  I  had  come  to  report  to  him 
as  I  had  of  late  threatened  them,  that,  while  I  was  willing 
to  do  to  the  extent  of  ray  ability  in  relieving  and  improv- 
ing the  most  degraded,  I  could  not  consent  to  keep  under 
my  charge  a  house  of  ill-iiime.  "I  will  give  you  a  good 
lionest  guard  day  and  night  over  that  l)uilding,"  said  the 
noble  general.  This  did  more  than  all  things  else  to  scat- 
ter them.  They  swore  they  would  not  be  tyrannized  over 
by  that  Yankee  woman  any  longer,  and  left,  very  much 
to  my  relief. 

Within  four  weeks  our  little  small-pox  l)()y  was  returned, 
Init  not  as  safe  as  the  surgeon  reported.  I  took  him  into 
the  wash-room  and  gave  him  a  thorough  cleansing,  before 
taking  him  to  sec  his  grandmother,  who  wept  for  joy. 

I  spent  a  few  days  in  revisiting  Quindan),  Lawrence, 
AVyandotte,  and  Kansas  City.  I  found  seven  homeless 
children,  and  a  mother  of  three  of  them  who  wished  to 
go  with  me  to  ISIichigan.  During  the  dav  and  ni^dit  I 
was  in  Kansas  City  I  Avas  taken  with  a  severe  attack  of 
})neumonia.  I  called  on  an  army  surgeon  for  mustard,  of 
which  I  i)laced  a  plaster  over  the  seat  of  the  pain,  that  had 
become  so  severe  as  to  cut  every  breath.  I  could  neither  lie 
down  nor  sit  still,  but  walked  the  room.  Placing  the  chil- 
<1r(Mi  in  charge  of  the  mother,  I  telegraphed  my  sergeant 
to  meet  me  at  the  boat  with  a  hack,  I  took  the  boat  f  )r 
Leavenworth,  where  the  carriage  met  me,  and  I  wr^  taken 
to  our  home,  with  a  high  fever,  but  the  i)ain  not  quite  so 
severe,  as  the  mustard  was  serving  its  jjurpose.  Dr.  Car- 
penter said  I  could  not  go  to  ^lichigaii  under  a  month. 
Although  my  side  remained  very  sore,  yet  I  manage  d  to 
sell  the  furniture.  I  took  a  hack  to  (leneral  Curtis's  office, 
and  managed  to  secure  transportation  for  seventy-five,  my- 
self and  IMrs.  Lee  included.     There  were  three  sick  chil- 


ORPHAN  C'lIir.DRKX. 


377 


gilt  I 

ick   of 

ml,  of 

t  liiul 

ler  lie 

10  cliil- 

rgciiiit 

:it  for 

taki'ii 

iiitc  i^o 

.  Cai- 

lOIltll. 

ircd   to 
oflice, 


e^ 


drcn,  1111(1  I  very  imicli  doubted  the  propriety  of  removing 
them.  Dr.  Carpenter  said  tiiey  would  he  more  likely  to 
live  than  if  taken  to  the  hospital,  as  I  [)rop(»sed. 

We  left  the  city  May  2t:5lii,  with  a  cloud  resting  over 
the  nation.  JNIy  healtii  was  still  jKior,  and  we  had  three 
sick  children,  whose  mother  was  with  them;  three  other 
children  began  to  complain  of  chills  and  fever  soon  after 
leaving.  These  cases  soon  developed  in  measles,  but  my 
haste  to  reach  home  urged  me  to  proceed  against  my  better 
judgment.  While  it  looked  like  j)rcsumption  in  others,  I 
felt  safe,  as  i)raycr  for  guidance  was  my  daily  bread. 
While  waiting  at  St.  Joseph,  ^Missouri,  for  the  train,  I  ob- 
tained rations  for  the  company.  Susan  B.  Anthony  had 
provided  a  lunch-basket,  well  filled,  for  ^Irs.  Lee  and  my- 
self, to  serve  for  the  entire  journey. 

While  we  were  handing  around  rations,  various  remarks 
Avere  made  as  to  Avhat  I  was  going  to  do  with  all  this  com- 
pany. Said  one,  "I  reckon  she's  got  a  big  planfatinn  to 
stock  with  a  i)icked  set  of  young  niggers,  she's  going  to 
train  to  her  own  liking."  Said  another,  "  I  am  going  to 
ask  where  she  is  going  Avith  them."  At  length  one  ven- 
tured, "Will  you  please  excuse  me,  madam,  if  I  ask  you 
Avhcro  you  are  taking  all  this  company?" 

"Certainly,"  was  my  answer;  "I  am  glad  to  inform 
you.  I  am  taking  these  orplian  chlldi'en,  who  have  been 
l)icked  up  ou  the  streets,  and  out  of  freedmen's  homes,  to 
an  orphan  school  in  ^Michigan.  By  order  of  the  State 
Freedmen's  Aid  Commission,  they  will  Ix;  sent  to  sciiool 
until  good  homes  can  be  secured  for  them,  Avhere  they  will 
be  taught  habits  of  industry,  as  Avell  as  to  improve  their 
intellects.  We  of  the  Xorth  think  they  can  learn,  if  an 
opportunity  is  pnn-itled." 

At  this  he  Avas  much  pleased,  and,  as  it  was  communi- 
cated to  other  bystanders,  a  number  came  to  congratulate 
me  in  mv  good  Avork.  One,  who  had  a  large  number  of 
slaves,  said  he  Avishcd  they  Avere  with  me,  "as>  it  wuuld  bo 


'I 


% 


i 

f.?! 


■■■•  ,t: 


■    (* 


}    •1 


(  . 


i  ■ 


f  * 


;!i;     .: 


fl 


I' 

7' 


''ii 


t 


S: 


e> 


0 


378 


A  avoman's  life-work. 


a  right  smart  <yf  a  while  before  it  '11  be  settled  here  to  have 
schools  for  'cm." 

All  stood  ready  to  put  the  sick  ones  on  the  train.  Mrs. 
Lee  took  care  of  the  .«ick  during  the  night,  and  I  had 
thcui  in  charge  during  the  day. 

After  our  arrival  at  Quincy,  Illinois,  and  our  transpor- 
tation papers  were  filled  out  for  Chicago,  ■with  a  little  diffi- 
culty I  secured  the  largest  coach  for  the  seventy-five  pas- 
sengers. By  9  P.  ^r.  all  were  in  their  beds.  A  few  men 
"were  disposed  to  trou])le  us,  because  Ave  did  not  allow  them 
to  enter.  I  called  for  the  night  policeman,  and  told  him 
of  four  drunken  men  Avho  were  disposed  to  give  us  trouble, 
and  as  the  train  was  not  going  out  until  eleven  o'clock  I 
appealed  to  him  for  aid.  lie  assured  me  we  should  not 
receive  further  annoyance  from  them.  We  arrived  in 
Chicago  thirty  minutes  before  the  iMichigan  train  left  for 
Adrian.  I  bouglit  tickets  for  four  omnibus  loads,  but  the 
drivers  were  determined  to  crowd  them  all  into  two.  As 
they  were  putting  little  folks  from  four  to  eight  years  old 
on  tiie  tops  I  ordered  them  down.  "AVe  are  capable  of 
taking  care  of  these  children,  madam,"  said  they;  "you 
take  that  one." 

"So  am  I  capable  of  taking  care  of  them,"  I  replied, 
"and  of  you  too;  I  paid  for  four  omnibuses  and  mu^^t 
have  them."  They  had  their  own  sport  over  their  counter- 
manded orders. 

AVe  arrived  at  Adrian  June  1st,  and  met  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  "  Ilaviland  Home"  with  teams  for  tlie 
women  and  children.  Here  my  heavy  burden  fell  off,  and 
I  dropped  into  the  home  of  my  children  to  get  the  rest 
Avhich  I  so  much  needed. 

A  few  Aveek's  rest  restored  my  liealth.  jNIeanwhile  I 
visited  our  State  Prison,  and  one  of  the  convicts,  Thomas 
Lean,  rcfpiested  an  interview  with  me,  Avhich  was  granted 
by  the  officer.  He  appealed  to  me  to  aid  him  in  securing 
his  pardon,  as  he  had  serA'cd  seA'en  years  of  his  term  of 


PETITION  FOR  PARDON. 


379 


'M 


you 


fifteen.  He  pleaded  .is  earnestly  in  behalf  of  his  wife  and 
two  little  children  as  for  himself.  I  told  him  I  would  do 
what  I  could,  but  us  efibrts  had  been  made  twice  bcibre,  1 
thought  success  quite  doubtful.  I  drafted  a  petition,  and 
secured  a  letter  of  recommendation  fnmi  Governor  Blair, 
and  a  strong  letter  from  Judge  Koss  Wilkins,  who  gave 
the  sentence,  and  from  the  })rosecuting  attorney  who  acted 
in  behalf  of  the  United  States  in  his  case,  and  also  scoured 
fifty  other  names  to  the  petition.  With  six  hundred  dol- 
lars placed  in  my  hands  by  i\Irs.  Campbell  and  Mrs.  Pap- 
pineau,  committee  who  had  charge  of  the  funds  of  the 
Freedmen's  Fair,  I  left  for  Washington,  D.  C,  August  3d. 
At  Pittsburg  I  spent  one  night,  and  on  the  following  day 
visited  the  State  Prison  at  Allegheny  City. 

The  next  morning  I  took  the  early  train  for  Baltimore, 
and  from  tlience  to  Annajjolis,  to  learn  the  result  of  l^Iiza- 
beth  L.  CoTustock's  petition  in  behalf  of  fifteen  convicts  in 
the  Maryland  Penitentiary  for  aiding  slaves  to  escape  from 
bondage.  I  found  ten  of  those  men  had  been  pardoned, 
])ut  as  four  of  them  had  used  weapons  in  defending  them- 
selves, and  one  had  taken  a  span  of  horses  which  the 
friends  engaged  in  their  behalf  deemed  theft,  they  were 
retained  in  prison.  I  found  another  on  the  govcTnor's 
record  for  the  same  offense.  I  took  the  names  of  the  six 
on  my  list,  as  the  governor  thought  they  were  as  worthy 
of  release  as  the  others,  since  the  weapons  were  designed 
for  self-defense,  and  the  horses  were  only  used  to  take  them 
to  the  river,  and  were  left  to  return  to  their  owners.  I 
saw  the  names  of  the  friends  who  c(t-operated  with  E.  L. 
Comstock  on  the  petition,  and  called  on  James  Bains,  who 
introduced  me  to  Judge  Bond.     The  judge  said  he  thought 

to  the  worthiness  of  the  six 


1 


was  correct  in  my  views  as 


men  presented  for  his  recommendation  to  the  governor  for 
clemency,  and  that  he  would  attend,  to  it  soon.  Said  the 
Friend:  "If  thou  feel'st  easy  to  jK'tition  for  their  pardon  T 
think  thou  hadst  better  remain  with  us  until  it  is  accom- 


■* 

■I 


:p. 


?1 

I 


M 


w 


m  '.i^i^' 


1:^  llJI 


WET 


380 


».•' 


A   WOMAN'S   LIFK-WORK. 


V  ■ 


- 


li 


.'IH 


If*:! 


h  f  . 


If  I' 


1: 


'    n 


i'.i 


plishod,  as  tlicy  have  such  an  ainount  of  husiiiess  on  hand 
at  this  time." 

The  judge  socmod  to  think  liimsclf  distrusted,  and  said: 
'Olrs.    Ilaviland,   I   v.ill   attend  to  this  Avithin  a  week." 
Willi  this   assurance   I    tohl    tlie  judge   and    the   Friend 
that  I  should  feel  easy  to  pursue  my  journey  the  first  of . 
the  week. 

From  this  office  I  was  accompanied  to  the  penitentiary 
and  iiilroducod  to  the  Avarden,  who  sent  a  guide  to  conduct 
me  through  the  shops  and  granted  me  the  privilege  of 
addrcHsing  the  sixty-eight  female  convicts.  A  large  major- 
ity of  them  were  colored,  placed  there  by  their  former 
owners  for  trivial  offenses,  the  real  cause  heing  that  of 
leaving  them,  hut  ostensibly  for  stealing  a  dress,  a  pair  of 
shoes,  or  a  dollar  or  two,  etc.  One  smart-looking  octoroon 
girl  of  eighteen  years  was  about  to  be  whijiped  by  her 
mistress,  but  she  had  heard  of  the  proclamation  of  eman- 
cipation and  concluded  that  she  had  been  whipped  long 
enough,  and  snatched  the  cowhide  from  the  mistress  and 
whipped  her.  For  this  she  was  arrested,  had  a  sham  trial, 
and  a  S(>ntence  of  nine  years'  imprisonment  in  the  j)eniten- 
tiary.  One  man  told  me  that  the  mistress  reported  that 
the  girl  half  killed  her,  I  ut  he  saw  her  riding  out  Avithin 
foiu'  days  after  the  wliipping,  and  she  looked  as  Avell  as 
usual.  I  visited  a  very  sick  white  Avoman  in  her  cell,  to 
Avhom  I  read  a  })ortion  of  Scripture,  and  at  her  recpiest  led 
in  prayer.  She  said  she  Avas  going  to  meet  her  Judge,  in 
Avhom  she  trusted.  Jesus  hears  the  cry  of  a  repentant 
sinner,  and  she  Avas  confident. 

The  following  day  Avas  the  Sabbath,  and  I  accimipanicd 
my  friend  to  the  penitentiary,  Avhere  he  opened  the  Sab- 
bath-school and  invited  me  to  teach  a  class  of  thirty  men. 
There  were  nearly  five  hundred  imnatcs  in  prison.  As  Ave 
Avere  leaving  the  yard  a  request  from  the  Avarden  r(>ached 
me  to  conduct  the  funeral  service  of  the  woman  I  had 
visited.     She  died  within  a  few  hours  after  T  left.     Three 


nilSONKR    PA IIDONEI). 


381 


hand 


^'^ 


ipimlcd 

ic  Sul>- 

y  men. 

As  we 

cached 

I   had 

Three 


()'c'h)ck  P.  iVI.  was  the  hour  apj)ointe(h  I  met  them  in 
their  chapel,  that  was  well  filled,  some  ladies  of  the  city 
heing  present.  Many  of  the  convicts  were  much  affected. 
They  also  manifested  great  interest  at  the  meeting  on  the 
previous  day. 

,  On  the  following  day  I  arrived  at  Washington.  I 
found  the  White  House  perfectly  hcsieged  with  pardon- 
seekers  from  ex-slave  States.  I  called  on  a  nuniher  of  the 
officials,  who  said  that  the  severity  of  Thomas  Lean's  sen- 
tence made  the  case  look  dark.  I  told  them  of  one  who 
had  rohhed  the  mail  of  five  thousand  dollars  and  was  par- 
doned in  three  years,  whose  term  was  ten  years.  But  he 
had  wealtiiv  and  influential  friends  to  intercede  for  him, 
Avhile  this  num  robbed  the  mail  of  forty-two  dollars  and 
had  served  over  seven  years  of  the  fifteen,  and  was  poor. 
Besides,  his  wife  was  in  poor  health,  and  was  supporting 
herself  and  two  small  ciiildren.  I  was  advised  to  take  the 
letters,  with  petition,  to  Postmaster -general  Dennison, 
from  whom  I  secured  a  recommendation  for  his  pardon. 
From  thence  I  went  to  the  capitol  and  secured  the  names 
of  Hon.  F.  C.  Bcaman,  ^lember  of  Congress,  Senator  Z. 
Chandler,  and  all  other  Michigan  members  of  both  Houses 
to  my  petition ;  and  through  Mr.  Wade,  the  President's 
house-keeper,  I  secured  an  audience  with  the  President, 
who  took  my  letters  with  the  petition  and  said  he  would 
refer  them  to  the  Attorney-general,  and  do  what  seemed 
best  in  the  case.  I  then  left  him  with  his  room  crowded 
with  .Southern  jiardon-seekers. 

While  in  the  Postmaster-general's  office  the  chief  clerk 
said,  "Come  into  this  office  at  nine  A.  M.,  next  Wednes- 
day, as  I  think  that  will  be  his  par^  )ning  day,  and  you 
will  learn  the  result,"  I  waited  until  eleven  A.  M.,  fearing 
for  the  worst.  As  I  opened  the  offlcc-<loor  the  clerk  thnnv 
up  both  hands,  crying,  "  Your  man  is  pardoned!  your  man 
is  pardoned!  Come  and  see  the  nf>tice  in  this  morning's 
paper."     A  hearty  hand-shaking  followed  the  good  news. 


^Ik 


•|  I  Hi 


-^1 


M 


1 


t  ! 


-h 

*1i!, 


I' 


r 

1 

1  -''' 

II:  ,;!r 


3' 


I  i 

iii- 


I*  1 

i    I 


•  :^'  • 


382 


A  woman's  life-work. 


0 


ir 


I  told  him  I  did  not  know  tliat  ho  had  taken  such  an  inter- 
est in  my  cause.  He  replied,  "I  have  had  an  interest  in 
this  case  from  the  first  time  you  came  into  this  office."  A 
few  days  after  I  received  a  note  from  the  pardoned  man 
conveying  his  tearful  thanks.  Here  was  another  burden 
laid  aside,  for  which  grateful  thanks  were  tendered  to  the 
Healer  of  broken  hearts. 

I  received  a  permit  from  Secretary  Stanton  to  trade  at 
the  government  store,  where  new  goods  were  being  sold  at 
auction  rates.  For  five  hundred  dollars  1  purchased  two 
thousand  dollars'  worth  of  supplies  to  disburse  among  the 
sick,  crippled,  and  aged,  both  colored  and  white.  There 
were  many  in  Washington  and  Georgetown  relieved  from 
great  suffering.  I  learned  of  much  suffering  at  Harper's 
Ferry,  and  took  four  hundred  dollars'  worth  to  that  point. 

On  my  way  I  called  at  the  Baltimore  penitentiary.  As 
I  entered  the  warden's  office  he  informed  me  that  our  men 
had  been  released  ten  days  before,  exce[)t  one,  who  was 
going  out  within  a  week.  Another  burden  left  nic.  These 
men  were  making  efforts  to  free  their  families  by  flights 
and  were  caught  and  received  long  sentences,  according  to 
the  number  in  their  families.  Three  men  of  the  si  :  had 
bought  themselves,  and  in  their  efforts  to  free  theii  fami- 
lies received  from  ton  to  thirty  years'  sentence,  although 
two  of  these  families  were  recovered  by  their  owners. 
They  all  looked  like  intelligent  men.  I  took  an  early 
train  for  Harper's  Ferry.  In  the  seat  opposite  sat  a  Pres- 
byterian D.  D.,  with  his  body-servant,  who  was  very  at- 
tentive in  bringing  him  his  coffee,  books,  or  roll  of  manu- 
script. "How  far  are  you  going  on  this  road,  madam?" 
inquired  our  dignitary. 

On  informing  him  he  inquired,  "  Have  you  friends  there?" 

"I  have,"  I  said,  "but  I  never  saw  them.  They  are 
the  poorest  of  the  poor,  the  sick,  lame,  and  blind,  of  all 
classes,  black,  white,  red,  or  yellow.  I  draw  no  lines  of 
demarkatiou." 


li 


A    SOUTHERN    <I.EUf; V.MAX. 


383 


inter- 
rest  ill 
c."  A 
il  mull 
burden 

to  the 

rade  at 
sold  at 
led  two 
)ng  tlio 
Tliere 
!d  from 
lai-pcr's 
,t  point, 
.rv.    As 
lur  men 
;\\o  was 
These 
flight, 
Irding  to 
si  .  had 
u  fami- 
Ithough 
owners, 
n  early 
a  Pres- 
ery  at- 
|f  manu- 
adam?" 

sthere?" 
jhey  are 
|l,  of  all 

lliues  of 


"  Well,  madam,  that  is  a  noble  work,  and  God  will 
bless  you  in  it.  1  am  now  on  my  way  to  Vicksburg.  I 
jtreached  in  that  eity  a  number  of  years.  I  own  a  planta- 
tion near  that  eity,  and  had  forty  slaves.  A  little  before 
Vieksbiirg  fell  I  moved  with  them  to  Riehmond,  Virginia, 
and  when  that  city  fell  I  set  them  free,  and  they  are  now 
as  free  as  myself  Madam,  I  will  tell  you  what  your  duty 
is.  It  is  to  go  to  New  York,  Philadelphia,  and  Boston, 
and  gather  up  fifty  thousand  dollars,  and  follow  Sherman's 
track  through  to  the  Gulf  You  will  find  {)lenty  of  suf- 
fering to  relieve  among  both  white  and  black ;  and  you 
can  do  it.  Those  cities  I  have  named  are  wealthy.  I  have 
been  there  myself  I  spent  a  few  mouths  in  New  York, 
and  I  know  you  can  gather  up  that  amount  easy,  and  it's 
your  duty,  madam ;  and  God  will  bless  you  in  it." 

The  consequential  air  he  assumed  would  give  one  an 
impression  that  he,  at  least,  considered  himself  inspired 
with  power  from  on  high.  lie  did  not  feel  quite  satisfied 
without  re})eating  his  command  on  our  arrival  at  Harper's 
Ferry:  "  Do  as  I  have  told  you,  madam,  and  God  will 
bless  you  ;  good  by." 

I  found  my  goods  had  just  arrived,  and  the  commander 
of  the  post  kindly  offered  to  store  the  bales  of  .supplies  and 
furnish  an  ambulance  and  driver  whenever  I  desired.  My 
first  inquiry  was  for  a  boarding  place,  as  the  house  where 
the  colonel  was  boarding  was  full.  Mrs.  Johnson  was 
about  opening  a  boarding-house,  and  I  called  on  her  for  a 
few  days'  board. 

"Where  are  you  from?" 

"From  Washington,"  was  my  reply,  "with  supplies  for 
the  poor  freedmeu  and  whites  who  are  in  a  suffering  con- 
dition." 

"Oh,  you  are  a  Bureau  woman  then.     We  don't  have 
iiothin'  to  do  with  Bureau  folks.     I  can  't  board  you." 

After  being  directed  to  two  others,  who  ma<le  like  in- 
quiries, and  received  like  replies,  I  found  I  was  going  to  havo 


i-^ 


\'W 


»  i: 


rf 


\i  i: 


384 


iML 


A  woman's   I.IFK-MOIIK. 


'    i 


an  fillslay  job  on  hand  in  fooling  the  i)ublic  pulse  at  Har- 
bor's Ferry.  After  making  eight  calls,  chatting  a  while  at 
each  place  pleasantly,  for  1  would  talk  in  no  other  way, 
although  I  was  told  in  nearly  every  i)lacc  that  no  one  in 
that  town  would  disgrace  himself  by  walking  on  the  streets 
with  a  nigger  teacher,  or  speaking  to  one,  on  my  way  to 
report  my  unsuccessful  day's  work  to  the  colonel,  it  being 
after  sunset,  I  found  an  army  surgeon  sitting  on  his  front 
porch. 

"  Have  you  found  no  place  for  dinner?"  he  asked. 

"O  no,"  I  said,  "I  have  been  amusing  myself  over 
Confederate  fever  that  I  find  runs  too  high  for  health  in 
your  town," 

"jNIy  mother-in-law  is  away,"  he  answered,  "but  my 
wife  and  I  will  give  you  our  room  to-night,  and  we  will  see 
that  you  have  supper  at  once." 

At  j\[rs.  Bilson's  (the  mother-in-law)  I  remained  during 
the  week. 

At  the  chxse  of  the  week  I  attended  a  quarterly-meet- 
ing of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Chui'ch.  Wlu  u  the  min- 
ister invited  all  who  loved  the  I-iord  Jesus  to  testify,  T, 
with  others,  accepted  and  took  part.  At  the  close  he  came 
and  incpiirod  who  I  was.  I  introduced  myself  as  usual. 
After  reading  my  papers  from  the  Governor,  Mcml)ors  of 
Congress,  and  a  few  ministers  of  Michigan,  I  received  a 
number  of  invitations  to  their  houses,  which  gave  me  an 
opjiortunity  to  relate  my  first  day's  experience  in  their 
town.  They  made  a  number  of  excuses.  Among  them 
was  the  fact  that  ]Miss  Mann  (Horace  Mann's  sister),  kept 
herself  exclusively  with  the  colored  i)Coplo.  She  not  only 
taught  their  school,  but  l)oarded  with  them,  and  made 
no  calls  on  white  people.  They  acknowledged  that  those 
upon  whom  I  had  called  were  not  in  sympathy  with  the 
Union. 

Here,  as  in  other  places,  were  those  in  extreme  suffer- 
ing, both  white  and  colored.     One  blind  man,  and  an  old 


t  Har- 
hilc  at 
r  way, 
oue  ill 

streets 
wiiy  to 
t  being 
is  front 

d. 

ilf  over 

L'alth  ill 

but  my 
-will  sec 

\  during 


inect- 
iG  niin- 
stify,  T, 
ic  came 
usual. 
bers  of 
cived  a 
me  au 
n  their 
<r  them 
r),  kept 
not  only 
1   mado 
at  those 
ith  the 


e  suffcr- 
au  old 


0 


MISSION   SCIIOOI.. 


385 


white  man  and  his  wife,  wore  too' sick  to  take  care  of  each 
other.  One  sick  wonuin,  wliose  huisband  was  in  tlie  army, 
had  no  fire,  only  as  the  little  girl  of  three  years  old  gath- 
ered old  boots  and  shoes  around  au  old  camp  with  which 
to  build  it.     All  of  these  cases  were  relieved. 

One  day  it  rained  too  hard  to  he  out.  A  little  girl 
brought  au  umbrella  with  a  recjuest  from  her  folks  for 
me  to  call  on  them.  I  went  and  met  about  a  dozen  men 
and  women,  who  wished  to  consult  with  me.  The  troops 
were  liable  to  be  withdrawn.  If  so,  their  lives  would  not 
be  safe  au  hour.  A  few  nights  before  a  mob  broke  their 
Avindows  and  rushed  into  their  grocery  and  took  sacks  of 
flour  and  meal,  j)ies,  cakes,  and  crackers,  and  strewed  them 
over  the  street,  in  front  of  their  grocery,  and  brc^ke  uj) 
their  chairs  and  tables,  and  swore  that  no  nigger  should 
have  a  business  place  on  Main  Street.  They  threw  stones 
and  brickbats  into  their  living  rooms,  and  the  men,  women, 
and  children  ran  to  the  soldiers  for  protection,  with  bleed- 
ing bruises  that  were  bound  up  at  the  time  of  my  call. 
A  sad  picture  they  presented  with  their  broken  furniture 
and  injured  bodies. 

"What  use  is  there  in  gathering  more?  Can  you  tell 
us  what  to  do?  You  see  our  lives  are  in  danger  as  it  is. 
If  the  troops  shall  be  withdrawn,  what  shall  we  do?" 

There  was  a  Free-will  Baptist  just  arrived,  who  pro- 
posed opening  a  mission  school  in  that  town,  and  had  just 
sent  word  that  he  wanted  to  meet  them  at  their  prayer- 
meeting.  Of  this  I,  as  well  as  thoy ,  was  glad  to  hear.  I  met 
Avitli  them,  and  was  i)leascd  with  the  Christian  spirit  of  this 
brother,  and  the  pros2)ect  of  his  school  among  them  seemed 
like  a  silver  lining  in  their  dark  cloud.  AVe  learned  of 
his  success  in  opening  and  continuing  that  school,  which  a 
few  years  after  assumed  the  character  of  an  a('a<lemy. 

The  following  day  I  took  the  train  for  AVashington,  and 
■was  accompanied  to  the  depot  by  a  nund)er  of  the  citizens, 
who  manifested  very  kindly  feelings.     I  was  told  by  some 

33 


'i 


rVi 


u 


ji;' 

,:r' 


1   . 

38G 


A    woman's    lilFK-WOUK. 


to  l)c  sure  to  call  on  them  if  I  ever  visited  their  town 
again,  and  they  would  see  that  a  week's  or  a  niontli'f'  board 
siiould  eitist  me  nothing.  One  man  and  his  wil'o  pointed 
to  their  brick  house,  to  which  I  could  come,  and  be  more 
than  welcome.  I  left  them,  and  suou  met  kindred  spirits 
in  Washington. 


I' 

1 1        i 


m§ 


?^ 


1 1 

■  r 


COLOUIOD   SCIIOOI.S. 


387 


Chapter  XIV. 


4 


IIOMR  MISSION  WORK. 

Tiir.RE  were  many  sick,  crippled,  aged,  and  blind  suf- 
ferers in  Washington  to  visit  and  relieve,  but  the  severest 
trial  I  endured  was  encountering  the  virus  of  disloyalty 
wherever  I  went.  AVonicu  were  more  outspoken  than 
men,  because  they  could  dare  be.  Men  Averc  more  subtle 
and  appeared  more  pliant,  only  to  hoodwink  government. 
They  said  in  secret,  "  We  '11  yet  gain  by  the  ballot,  with 
the  help  of  Northern  sympathizers,  what  we  failed  to  ac- 
complish with  the  bullet."  By  order  of  President  Johnson 
the  colored  soldiers  were  every  where  discharged  and 
witiidrawn  from  forts  and  garrisons,  at  the  request  of  their 
former  masters,  only  to  be  left  to  their  unrelenting  hate. 
One  colored  man  returned  to  the  plantation  of  his  wife's 
master,  and  asked  him  if  he  could  take  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren to  himself,  as  lie  had  means,  after  two  years  of  serv- 
ice to  support  them.  The  only  answer  he  received  was 
the  contents  of  a  pistol,  tluit  took  his  life  instantly!  I 
heard  of  similar  murders  in  this  vicinity,  of  which  no 
notice  was  taken  by  the  State  authorities. 

I  visited  a  number  of  large  schools  in  Alexandria,  Sep- 
tember 14th,  and  was  invited  to  address  tliem.  Two  of 
these  were  kept  in  two  of  the  largest  slave-pens  in  tiio 
city.  Alexandria  was  one  of  the  greatest  slave  marts  in 
Virginia.  In  the  Avery  slave-pen  there  was  a  dungeon-like 
room,  designed  for  one  standing,  with  iron  staples  to  which 
the  wrists  were  locked,  and  a  sort  of  stocks  for  the  feet,  when 
a  stream  of  cold  water  was  pumped  over  the  nude  form 
of  the  refractory  slave,  from  ten  minutes  to  an  hour  or 
more,  according  to  the  offense.      They  told  me  they  had 


kM 


^ifjr~ 


^i|H.i 


iij 


M 


.    1  i 

1    1 


« 


'Tfr^''  '  ^. 


ii:  iM 


"in. 


^li;,i 


:f    ? 


;>'    '  '. 


ri  i 


l'.j 


0 


388 


A  woman's  jjfk-work. 


known  thorn  taken  down  cliilloil  to  doiith.  It  was  wiid  to 
1)0  one  of  the  most  cnu-l  inniishnients.  They  showed  nie 
the  stump  of  the  whippin"^  post,  wliere  liumh'eda  of  writh- 
ing vietimn  iiad  suffered  this  kind  of  torture.  But  it* did 
seem  lis  if  the  Ixitter  day  was  coming,  to  sec  a  liundred 
and  fifty-tiiree  hhiek  children  here  so  eager  to  learn,  pnd 
to  hear  them  read  so  well  after  only  four  months*  schooling. 

I  met  a  woman  on  the  street  in  deep  mourning  who 
was  weeping.  1  in(piired  the  cause  of  her  gri(!f  Hhe  said: 
"  I  have  l)cen  to  visit  the  grave  of  my  only  son.  His 
father  died  a  few  immths  ago,  and  this  darling  son  was 
my  only  child,  lie  died  in  the  Union  army  ;  but  what 
does  all  this  terrible  sacrifice  amount  to?  President  John- 
sou  is  giving  strength  to  the  rel)els.  Every  rebel  gciicral 
has  been  pardoned,  and  the  vast  amount  of  laud  restored 
to  them  is  increasing  their  power.  You  sec,  wherever 
troops  arc  withdrawn  they  commit  murdei*s,  and  no  notice 
is  taken  of  it.  I  feel  as  though  my  son's  life  and  thou- 
sands of  other  ])rccious  lives  have  been  sacrificed  for  noth- 
ing." I  could  say  but  little  to  comfort  that  poor,  broken- 
hearted, widowed,  childless  mother.  I  could  only  commend 
her  to  our  Heavenly  Father,  who  alone  can  console  the 
■widow's  aching  heart. 

On  September  15th  I  took  a  steamer  for  Richmond, 
Virginia,  and  arrived  on  the  IGth  at  Fredericksburg. 
Here  were  standing  many  chimneys,  showing  us  the  waste 
places  and  burned  houses  in  this  small  but  quaint  old  ^ity. 
I  called  at  the  teachers'  boarding-house,  kept  by  a  good 
Union  family,  Wm.  J.  Jeffries.  ISIrs.  King  accompanied 
mc  to  the  soldiers'  hospital.  Here,  as  elsewhere,  the  poor 
suffering  soldier  seemed  rejoiced  to  see  and  hear  the  repre- 
sentative of  their  mothers.  After  reading  the  Scripture 
and  prayer  I  loft  a  number  in  tears. 

Here  was  the  home  of  General  Washington's  mother. 
I  visited  the  house,  and  a  feeling  of  solemnity  came  over 
me  as  we  passed  through  her  sitting  room  into  the  large 


laid  to 

cJ  nie 
writ  li- 
lt mI'kI 

undrod 

'n,  rnd 

loollng. 

vr  who 

\G  said : 
1.     His 

son  was 
it  what 
it  Jolm- 
geiierul 
rt'storcd 
.lierover 
lo  notice 
pd  thou- 
r  iioth- 
)r()kon- 
)inniciid 
dc  the 

iinond, 

ic  waste 
)ld  '^itv. 

a  jrood 
iipanicd 

10  poor 
0  rcpre- 
cripturc 

mother, 
over 


SCIIOOI,   FOn  WHITK  (MIILDRKN. 


380 


ne 


large 


bod-room,  \vh(>re  report  said  she  died.  Ninir  by  is  lur 
tomb.  Tlie  pi'iieslal  only  stands  erect,  but  badly  marriMl 
by  the  cliisej  in  chipping;  off*  pieces,  by  liundreds  of  visitors. 
Our  t(>acliers  iiKpiired  it'  I  would  not  like  a  chip  t'rom  the 
tomb.  I  told  them  that  no  chis<>l  or  hammer  should  be 
applied  for  mo;  but  1  picked  up  a  little  j)iece  at  it.s  ba.se. 
We  had  gone  l)ut  few  rods  In'fore  a  carriage  drove  to  the 
tomb,  and  the  chisel  and  hamm(>r  were  flaking  off  keep- 
sakes Ibr  four  men.  The  loug  block  of  marble  designed 
to  have  been  placed  on  the  pedestal  lay  near  it  half  buried 
in  the  ground  where  it  had  lain  nearly  or  quite  a  century. 

After  in.spectiug  the  rebel  earth-works  and  rifle-pits,  I 
visited  !Mi.ss  Strausburg'.s  .school  of  IM]  poor  white  chil- 
dren, quite  unlike  any  colored  school  I  had  visited  any 
where,  as  to  order.  They  commenced  to  sneer  at  m(>  tho 
moment  I  entered,  bat  their  teacher  invit<Ml  me  to  speak  to 
the  school,  and  they  became  at  once  quiet  and  resi)ectful. 
Little  James  Stone  asked  permission  to  sing  for  me,  and 
bo  sang  a  religious  hymn  in  which  nearly  all  the  school 
joine<l.  To  my  surprise  they  sang  the  "lied.  White  and 
Blue"  and  "The  Soldier's  Farewell  to  bis  Mother,"  for 
Avliich  I  thanked  them.  In  pa.ssing  along  the  street  after 
the  .school  was  dismissed,  many  of  the  children  came  out 
with  their  mothers,  pointing  toward  me.  At  two  places  I 
lialted  to  speak  to  them  and  their  mothers,  which  pleased 
them  very  much. 

The  next  day  I  visited  a  few  Union  families,  who  gave 
sonic  interesting  facts  concerning  their  trials.  I  left  two 
dollars  with  one  sick  woman,  who  wept  as  I  left  her. 
I  called  at  IVIajor  Johnson's  hoachj-uarters.  He  was  very 
anxious  to  send  on  an  orphan  baby  one  year  old  to  Camp 
Lee  orphanage,  in  Hichmond.  He  gave  me  a  pa])cr  that 
would  secure  its  admission.  On  arriving  at  Ixichmond  I 
left  my  charge  at  the  orphanage.  As  no  name  was  on 
the  paper,  or  was  given  to  me  with  the  child,  the  matron, 
Mrs.  Gibbons,  named  liini  Haviland  Gibbons. 


i 
% 


i 

I 


t.     l!j 


390 


A  woman's  life-work. 


i 


■ ) 


*'<■•'> 


\     \ 


I 


I  visited  the  orphanage  a  number  of  times.  The  matron 
said  the  little  follow  learned  his  name  very  readily.  Here 
was  a  pair  of  twin  boys,  about  two  years  old,  very  black 
and  smart.  As  they  quarreled  so  much  of  the  time,  Judge 
Fitzhugh  proposed  to  name  them  Abe  and  Jef!',  after  tiio 
two  Presidents.  Though  a  strong  Confederate,  he  said 
they  were  smarter  than  any  white  children  he  ever  saw, 
and  to  j)rove  his  position  he  called  them  out  to  dance,  as 
he  had  taught  them  to  step  the  figure.  He  sang  for  them, 
aiul  tlicy  danced  to  his  music. 

"There,  I'll  venture  to  say,"  he  said,  "you  never  saw 
two  white  children  of  their  age  do  that.  I  tell  you  the 
negro  race  is  naturally  smarter  than  the  Anglo-saxon." 

I  told  him  I  was  surprised  at  this  reiriark,  when  he 
had  told  mc  a  few  minutes  before  that  the  negroes  would 
soon  die  out,  because  they  could  not  take  care  of  them- 
selves. 

"That  is  true,"  he  rejoined,  "and  I  have  ■written  a 
l)0()k  in  which  I  take  the  same  position,  and  can  jirove  it. 
They  will  do  more  work  than  white  people  can,  l)ut  they 
lack  caleidation;  hence  the  necessity  of  their  being  under 
the  supervision  of  the  whites.  AVc  have  the  ])lanning  fac- 
ulty, and  they  have  the  ability  to  do  the  work.  There  is 
thei'ofore  a  necessity  for  both  races  to  work  together  to  bo 
a  successfid  i)eo[)le.  I  repeat  what  I  told  you  ])efore,  that 
we  never  shall  j)rosper  separated.  The  power  of  governing 
must  remain  with  the  Anglo-Saxon  race,  and  God  has  so 
designed.  The  Yankees  have  made  a  sad  mistake  in  free- 
ing the  slave,  for  in  time  they  will  become  extinct;  but 
(lod  will  never  suffer  this  state  of  things  to  remain,  and 
you  Avill  see  the  8outh  in  power  in  two  years,  and  the 
North  minus  the  power  she  now  wields. 

I  cited  him  to  black  men  in  Caiuida,  who  had  escaped 
from  slavery  and  who  had  ac(piired  wealth,  and  to  one  of 
the  wealthiest  livery  men  in  their  own  city.  I  also  re- 
ferred to  a  shoenuiker  who  had  been  free  but  a  few  mouths. 


"  SOCIOLOGY." 


391 


His  credit  was  sufficient  to  purchase  ten  dollars*  worth  of 
stock,  which  he  niadc  up  and  sohl,  paying  for  his  stock; 
he  then  made  another  punOiase  and  was  hard  at  work  to 
purchase  a  little  home.  His  wife  was  washinjj^  and  house- 
cleaning,  witli  the  same  object  iu  view.  They  told  me 
they  allowed  themselves  meat  but  once  a  week,  and  Vwod 
on  corn-bread,  mush,  and  molasses,  and  that  they  intendiid 
to  live  and  work  in  this  way  until  they  should  succeed. 

"Does  not  this  look  like  calculation?"  I  asked. 

"I  admit,"  he  said,  "there  are  isolated  cases,  but  it  is 
not  the  rule." 

He  gave  me  his  book  to  read,  entitled  "Sociology  of 
the  South,  by  J.  Fitzluigh,  Att'y."  I  found  it  a  iR'rl'ect 
bundle  of  inconsistencies.  He  goes  into  a  labored  argu- 
ment against  free-hibor,  free-schools,  fcee-{)ress  and  IVee- 
speech,  as  destructive  to  a  prosperous  people.  He  claiuHul 
to  be  a  cousin  of  Gerrit  Smith's  wife,  and  said  that  they 
Avere  crazy  over  slavery.  He  also  claimed  that  President 
Johnson  was  doing  all  he  could  for  them,  and  that  through 
him  they  were  going  to  have  their  rights  restored.  He 
knew  of  men  who  had  gathered  half  a  bushel  of  Confederate 
money,  and  .said  they  should  keep  it  until  it  would  i)e  worth 
as  much  as  greenbacks.  He  also  know  men  who  had  bills 
of  sale  of  negroes,  a  foot  deep,  that  they  were  keeping 
to  recover  their  slaves,  or  paij  for  them;  and  he  was  confi- 
dent that  it  would  be  accomplished  within  two  years.  .This 
I  found  to  be  a  very  general  feeling  among  the  most  prom- 
inent Confederates. 

On  Se])teml)er  20th  I  visited  a  num])er  of  sick  tluit  I 
supplied  with  bedding  and  clothing.  I  walked  six  miles 
that  day,  and  then  went  to  the  office  of  the  Freedmcn's 
Bureau,  where  I  was  furnished  with  an  and)ulan('e  and 
driver  to  take  things  to  the  sulferers  I  had  visited. 

After  spending  several  days  in  this  work,  visiting 
schools  and  giving  attention  to  many  sufferers,  I  returned, 
weary  in  hotly  but  restfid  iu  mind,  and  thankful  that  the 


i 


!";(       •J' 


392 


A  woman's  lifp>work. 


■  1 

■Li    1 


friends  of  humanity  had  made  me  the  almoner  of  their 
gifts. 

On  October  2d  I  spent  some  time  in  Libby  Prison. 
My  sanitary  goods  were  stored  in  one  apartment  of  it.  The 
prisoners  were  under  guards,  and  were  permitted  to  assist 
me  in  oixiuing,  closing,  and  moving  barrels  and  boxes,  a 
portion  of  which  I  prepared  to  take  to  Ashland.  One  of 
the  keepers  took  me  to  the  long,  deep  tunnel  which  the 
Union  prisoners  had  dug  under  the  building  to  escape  from 
their  terrible  sufferings.  To  look  at  the  great  risk  they 
were  running  in  their  fruitless  effort  to  escape,  speaks 
loudly  of  the  desperation  to  which  they  were  driven.  i\Iy 
guide  gave  me  a  few  of  the  hand-cuffs  that  our  officers 
removed  from  some  of  the  emaciated  prisoners  when  Rich- 
mond was  taken.  The  doors  of  Castle  Thunder  and  Libby 
were  opened,  and  the  hand-cuffs  were  placed  on  their  cruel 
keepers,  who  had  made  a  boast  of  killing  as  many 
Yankees  in  these  prisons  as  their  troops  were  killing  in 
battle. 

I  went  out  some  distance,  October  3d,  to  an  old  camp, 
■where  a  school  was  organized  in  an  old  slave-pen.  Here 
•was  the  stump  of  the  whipping-post  cut  even  with  the 
ground.  I  was  shown  where  stood  the  auction-block.  As 
I  listened  to  a  history  of  cruelties  inflicted  here  I  did  not 
wonder  that  our  nation  was  compelled  to  pass  through  this 
baptism  of  blood.  Pointing  to  a  large  i)lantation  in  sight, 
said  one:  "There  lives  my  old  nuister,  who  said  in  the 
beginning  of  this  war,  'Before  my  children  shall  ever  be 
disgraced  with  work  I  will  wade  in  blood  to  the  horse's 
brid.o.'  He  did  fight  hard  as  long  as  the  war  lasted. 
But  last  week  he  told  his  two  sons  that  they  must  go  to 
work  or  die.  He  came  into  my  siioe-siiop  the  other  day 
with  his  feet  almost  bare,  and  I  took  the  best  pair  of  boots 
I  had  and  gave  them  to  him.  I  know  he  thought  of  old 
days,  for  I  did." 

After  talkmg  to  the  childreu  at  school  I  visited  the 


1 1 


FREED-WOMEN. 


393 


agcfl  and  sick,  Anthony  Wilson,  very  aged,  said,  "Dun 
kno'  how  ole  I  is.  AVhite  folks  say  I's  niore'n  eighty.  Had 
licaps  o'  ups  an'  downs;  good  many  more  downs  dan  ui)s; 
my  big  family  all  tore  to  pieces  two  times."  I  gave  him  a 
whole  suit  of  clothes.  "  IJress  do  good  Lo'd,"  he  exclaimed, 
**dis  is  do  best  suit  I  cber  had;  dis  I  reckon  is  my  freedom 
suit."  ]\Iary  Brackson,  also  very  old,  had  two  little  grand- 
children Avith  her.  Their  mother  was  sold  down  the  river 
when  the  youngest  was.  a  year  old.  Her  life  had  been  a 
sad  one.  She  was  crii)plcd  with  rheumatism,  and  her  arm 
had  been  broken  by  an  ov^erseer's  club.  I  gave  her  a  bed- 
tick,  quilt,  blanket,  and  a  few  clothes  f)r  herself  and 
grandchildren.  Then  I  visited  and  relieved  four  other 
liimilies,  to  whom  I  gave  advice,  and  with  the  most  I  read 
and  offered  prayer,  which  always  seemed  to  bo  a  great 
comfort  to  them. 

Two  days  after  I  took  a  train  with  supplies  f  )r  Ash- 
land. I  arrived  in  the  afternoon  and  met  an  excellent 
Union  family,  formerly  from  England,  Judge  James,  whose 
house  was  battered  on  each  side  with  bullets  and  shells  in 
the  severe  battle  fought  at  that  i)lace.  This  town,  tho 
home  of  some  strong  i)olitical  men,  seemed  dilapidated  and 
forsaken.  Judge  James's  wife  and  daughter  were  noblo 
women,  and  I  found  a  very  pleasant  home  in  this  family. 
They  directed  me  to  the  most  suffering  families  and  indi- 
viduals. My  first  call  was  on  Charlotte  Boles,  whose 
reply  to  the  query  for  her  age  was,  "1  dun  kno';  missus 
'specks  I's  eighty,  large  odd."  She  had  served  three  gen- 
erations. 

"I's  had  so  many  children,"  she  said,  "  I  can't  tell  till 
I  call  de  names:  Pomp,  Jim,  Tom,  Sol,  Sue,  Dick,  an' 
Dllcy;  den  some  babies  I's  got  iu  heaven.  I  seed  heap  o' 
trouble  in  my  time.  I  nursed  at  de  breas'  eleven  of  my 
firs*  massar's  chillen,  Isaac  Wi'*ton,  and  six  of  his  gran'- 
chillen.  I  dress  'em  firs',  an'  some  on  'em  for  de  grave.  My 
secon'  niassar,  William  Wiulield,  Jun.,  da  have  six  chillen, 


m  ] 


I  >• 


}''■ 


J 


f§ 


w^^ 


394 


A   woman's   IJFK-WOIIK. 


■■If: 


) 


I  > 


if. 


1  , 

I 

i  1   i 

1      * 

)    '      : 

^a 

an*  I  dress  'cm  all  firs',  and  most  all  at  las'  for  de  grave. 
0  my  God,  I  can  ncbcr,  nchcr  tell  de  trouble  1  's  had.  O 
how  hard  I  prayed  for  freedom,  an'  de  Lord  come  at  las'. 
I's  praise  his  name.  I)c  one  dat  I  nurst  when  a  babio 
ordered  mc  whijiped  'case  I  cried  so  much  when  da  sole  my 
cliillen  down  de  riber.  But  I  hear  dat  de  war  free  five  of 
my  chillen,  an'  I's  ])rayin', God  to  sen'  'em  to  poor  me. 

Kotwithstandini^  her  great  age  her  mind  was  unnsually 
clear,  and  tlie  fretjuent  starting,  tear  manifested  strong 
maternal  affection. 

There  was  not  a  house,  yard,  or  grove  but  bore  the 
mark  of  shell  or  bullet. 

An  exciting  scene  passed  befi)rc  us  October  l^th. 
Young  Mrs.  Pollard,  daughter  of  my  host,  who  had  bconie 
the  wife  of  the  noted  Confederate  editor  of  the  most  rabid 
paper  in  Ivichmond,  had  beeu  forbidden  to  visit  or  even  to 
oorresjiond  with  her  }>arents.  Iler  husband  said  if  she 
should  attempt  it,  it  would  be  at  her  peril.  She  found  him 
to  be  inconstant,  as  he  had  become  the  paramour  of  a 
Cyprian  in  New  York  city,  where  he  spent  several  weeks 
Avriting  a  bo  )k  on  the  bravery  of  CVn federate  soldiers. 
AVhen  she  discovered  these  facts,  with  her  heart  full  (  f 
grief,  she  told  him  the  reports  she  had  heard  of  his  incon- 
stancy. He  acknowledged  all,  and  entreated  her  pardon. 
But  he  soon  became  as  cruel  as  ever.  During  his  absence 
in  Xew  York  she  took  her  son  of  less  than  two  years  and 
came  to  her  father's  house,  a  poor,  heart-broken  woman. 
A  divorce  was  immediately  sued  for,  and  she  received  a 
summons  to  appear  in  court  in  Richmond.  Although  her 
father  was  there  to  receive  her,  she  feared  Mr.  Pollard 
would  take  her  life,  also  her  father's,  at  their  parting. 
She  threw  her  arms  around  her  mother's  neck  and  W('|)t 
upon  her  shonlders;  then,  sobbing,  said,  as  she  rested  her 
head  upon  my  shoulders: 

"Mrs.  Haviland,  you  won't  leave  me  after  our  arrival 
iu  Richmond  until  I  am  with  my  father,  will  youV" 


MONHV    DnMANDr:!). 


895 


li 


le  grave, 
bad.  O 
e  at  las'. 
a  babiG 
.  sole  my 
2G  five  of 
r  nic. 
inusiuilly 
d   strong 

bore  tlie 

er   15tb. 

1  bccjiiie 

ost  rabid 

r  oven  to 

id  if  plie 

)und  liim 

OUT  of  a 

al  weeks 

soldiers, 

full  (  f 

IS  inccii- 

pardon. 

absence 

cars  and 

woman. 

eivcd  a 

)iigh  her 

Pollanl 

parting. 

nd  wept 

ted  her 

■  arrival 


With  an  assurance  that  I  would  remain  at  her  side 
until  her  lather  took  her  under  his  protection,  she  left  her 
babe  with  hei'  mother  and  we  departed  for  Richmond. 
We  met  her  father,  with  whom  I  felt  she  woukl  be  safe. 
I  find  these  extremes  of  love  and  hate  more  prevalent  in 
the  South  than  in  the  North. 

(3u  the  LSth  of  October,  after  visiting  fifteen  sufllering 
families,  J  called  at  the  (office  for  an  ambulance  and  driver 
to  go  to  Libby  Prison  for  supplies.  These  were  obtained 
and  distributed,  and  such  gratitude  from  the  recipients  I 
never  found  elsewhere.  S)me  cf  them  wept  aloud.  A 
number  of  the  WLnieu  kissed  ray  bards  as  I  left  them, 
and  the  hearty  "Gcd  bless  you,  honey,"  was  an  evcry-day 
blessing  frum  these  poor  crushed  spirits. 

Que  of  our  officers  came  to  me  with  the  urgent  request 
ot  two  women,  living  in  a  large  I  rick  htu.se,  to  see  me. 
I  obeyed  the  summons  at  cuce.  As  I  rang  the  door-bell, 
a  genteelly  dressed  lady  in  black  satin  met  me  at  the  <loor. 
I  iu(]uired  if  there  were  two  la.lies  here  who  had  sent  for 
me?  She  replied  iu  the  affirmative.  By  this  time  the 
other  lady  appeared  in  the  hall,  also  dressed  in  rich  silk. 

"AVhat  are  yciir  greatest  needs,"!  asked,  "that  will 
come  within  my  power  to  supi  ly?" 

"We  want  monev,  madam,"  they  said,  "and  must 
have  it." 

"Are  any  of  your  fiimily  sick?" 

"No,  madam,  but  money  we  must  have." 

"Will  ratirns  answer  your  purpose?" 

"No,  madam,  wc  want  no  such  thing;  we  want  money, 
and  must  have  it." 

I  told  them  I  had  no  money  to  disburse,  and  only  sup- 
plied ford  and  clothing  t )  tho.^e  who  were  suflering  from 
greatest  destitution,  an<l  left  them  without  being  invited 
inside  their  house.  I  saw  at  once  they  were  most  accus- 
tomed to  the  imperative  mood. 

Ibe  captain  came  to  me  a  few  days  after  and  inquired 


yif 


11 


fl 


"^^ 


11    ': 


'  , 

1 

1  ,.■ 

1 

i 

1    i 

;■     f! 

*        ,                  r'  < 

:  i^i  It;    - 

L'l 

^HIU.". 

iK\ 


noG 


A  woman's  life-work. 


if  I  found  it  in  the  way  of  my  duty  to  relieve  the  wants 
of  those  two  ladies?  I  told  him  I  asked  them  a  few  ques- 
tions and  did  not  think  it  worth  the  money  demanded. 
He  said  they  had  sent  for  him,  and  a  number  of  other 
officers,  making  the  same  dentand,  and  as  they  had  not 
succeeded  they  sent  for  me,  ami  he  was  not  disappointed 
at  the  result. 

As  I  was  passing  their  news  depot,  I  saw  blazoned  in 
red  letters,  "  No  New  Nation  sold  here."  I  stepped  in  and 
inquired  fur  their  best  paper.  The  Examiner  was  handed 
me,  edited  l)y  Pollard,  the  whilom  son-in-law  of  Judge 
James,  one  of  the  most  rabid  Confederate  sheets  m  Rich- 
mond. I  inquired  where  the  New  Nation  was  sold.  They 
said  nowhere,  unless  a  few  "niggers"  might  be  fcund  sell- 
ing it  on  the  street.  One  of  them  poured  forth  a  long 
catalogue  of  epithets:  "Arrant  liar,"  "reckless  villain," 
and  finally  a  "crazy  scamp." 

As  I  was  passing  the  street  one  day,  and  saw  "  Xew 
Nation,"  I  thought  I  ^vould  call  on  the  "insane  editor," 
INIr.  Ilunnicutt.  I  ascended  to  the  third  story,  where  I 
found  the  busy  editor  and  his  .":on.  They  were  surprised 
to  see  a  lady  of  sufficient  moral  courage  to  call  on  them. 
The  editor  exhibited  a  pile  of  anonymous  letters,  threaten- 
ing his  life.  He  was  an  outspoken  T^nion  man,  and  had 
received  over  one  hundred  of  these  nameless  letters  witliiu 
three  months.     He  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  said : 

"The  Union  of  the  States  is  a  fixed  fact,  and  I  will 
advocate  it  s(piarcly,  though  it  cost  me  my  life,  but  Union 
principles  must  and  will  prevail." 

I  left  a  dollar  for  a  subscription  to  the  Nc^u  Nation  for 
six  months.  As  I  was  about  to  leave,  said  he,  with  tear- 
ful eye : 

'  A  select  few  in  this  city  meet  once  a  week  fi;r  a 
j^rr.x  t"-niceting,  but  I  can  not  attend  it  in  the  evening,  as  it 
ih  ui:''i\f    for  me  to  be  out  after  dark." 

1  to  id  him  I  had  received  a  secret  invitation,  and  had 


he  wants 
lew  ques- 
imauded. 
of  other 
had  not 
ppoiutc'd 

.zoned  ill 

?d  in  and 

5  handed 

if  Judge 

in  Rich- 

l.     They 

und  sell- 

li  a  long 

villain," 

w  *'  New 

editor," 

where  I 

surprised 

in  them. 

ireaten- 

and  had 

rs  within 

lid: 

1  I  will 
t  Union 

at  ion  for 
th  tear- 

k  for  a 

ug,  as  it 

ind  had 


VAyW    T.ER   ORrilANAOR. 


397 


attended  each  meeting  siuee  my  first  knowledg'"  of  tiiis 
praying  hand.  I  told  hiui  it  was  one  of  the  most  solemn 
meetings  I  had  ever  attended.  As  in  the  days  of  the  apos- 
tles, we  met  in  an  U]>per  room  at  the  hour  of  ])rayer, 
where  I  had  heard  the  e<litor  of  the  New  Nation  reme?u- 
bered. 

"I  know,"  he  said,  "that  I  have  friends  in  this  city, 
and  seme  I  know  are  secretly  friends  for  fear  of  this  hitter 
spirit  that  reigns  ti  a  fearful  extent.  Do  n't  forget  to  pray 
for  me  and  my  family.  I  dare  not  bring  my  wife  and 
daughter  to  tliis  city." 

iMy  wirk  kept  me  here  many  days.  November  25th  I 
spent  mostly  at  the  sanitary  rooms  in  Libby  Prison,  with 
Miss  Morris,  a  French  lady,  who  served  as  a  spy  ibr  the 
Union  generals.  Report  had  it  that  she  was  writing  a 
book  of  her  exploits.  A  soldier  told  me  lie  saw  her  a  pris- 
oner in  Southern  hands  hcftrc  the  fall  of  New  Orleans. 
But  she  managed  to  make  her  escape  from  that  city,  and 
in  disguise  revisited  it,  and  reported  to  our  generals.  She 
could  sjieak  French  and  German  better  than  our  own  lan- 
guage. She  often  disguised  her.«elf  most  effectually.  Her 
French  }>  tliteness  would  have  been  quite  annoying  to  ino 
had  it  not  been  for  the  faithful  assistance  she  rendered  in 
seeking  out  the  sick  and  dying,  not  hesitating  to  enter 
filthy  alleys,  dark,  cold  cellars,  or  with  me  to  climb  rickety 
flights  of  stairs  into  dark  attics.  I  have  found  in  almost 
every  place  one  or  more  Christian  women  who  kindly  ottered 
to  assist  me,  but  few  would  dari'  visit  tnose  filthy  places, 
fearing  contagious  diseases.  Having  had  the  small-pox, 
and  all  other  common  contagious  diseases,  with  my  very 
plain  habits  of  living,  I  dared  to  visit  the  sick  and  dying 
in  any  of  these  loathsome  places,  many  of  which  I  found 
in  Richmond. 

The  next  day,  being  Sunday,  was  spent  as  usual  in 
attending  Sabbath-schools.  I  spoke  in  two  of  them,  and 
in  one  meeting.     At  night  I  was  at  Camp  Lee  Orphanage 


':'tt  1 


f'!; 


Jvi    *, 


Wf 


nos 


»->, 


A    WOMAN'S    IJFE-WORK. 


H 


1 

^imii' 


\. 


J    ; 


:  I  I 

it  'I ;   J 

111' 


»:i 


' 


with  Annie  riil)l)on.s,  the  nuitron,  who  had  an  interesting 
group  of  little  Ibli^s.  As  they  gathered  around  the  tahle, 
at  the  tap  of  the  Ijeli,  with  clusped  hands  and  closed  eyes, 
they  repeated  the  verse: 

"  Lord,  teach  a  little  child  to  pray. 
Thy  grace  to  uie  impart,"  etc. 

I  met  a  colored  mau  from  Raleigh,  North  Carolina, 
who  gave  a  few  items  of  Andrew  Johnson's  early  history, 
in  regard  to  his  apprenticeship  iu  tailoring.  If  there  Avas 
a  dauce  withni  reach,  black  or  white,  it  was  all  the  same 
to  "Andy," — he  was  sure  to  be  there.  His  boss,  Mr.  Selby, 
lectured  him  about  his  late  hours,  and  to  evade  these  lec- 
tures he  often  "turned  in"  with  Handy  Luckett,  a  steady 
old  slave  man,  whose  bed  was  iu  the  loft  of  J.  O.  llork's 
carriage  house. 

At  a  shoe-shop,  I  met  jDhn  Blevins,  a  noble  appearing 
John  Brown  sort  of  man.  whose  sentence  was  forty  years 
iu  the  Virginia  Penitentiary  in  Richmond.  His  crime  was, 
aiding  slaves  to  their  God-given  rights.  He  had  served 
sixteen  years  W'hen  Richmond  was  taken.  The  Union  sol- 
diers opened  the  prison  door,  and  John  Blevins,  with  four 
hundred  other  prisoners,  walked  out  free  men.  His  in- 
telligence speaks  of  better  days.  He  is  sixty  years  of 
age,  and  hard  treatment  had  added  ten  years  to  his  ap- 
pearance. During  the  first  few  years  of  his  prison  liie  ho 
could  tell  when  a  master  had  lost  his  slaves,  as  they  would 
then  place  him  in  the  dungeon,  where  he  was  kept  for 
weeks  at  a  time,  to  compel  him  to  give  the  names  of  other 
al)olitioni.<ts,  but  they  never  succeeded.  He  was  at  this 
time  teaching  a  colored  school.  Out  of  school-hours,  he 
worked  in  the  shoe-shop,  and  was  trying  to  make  enough 
to  purchase  for  himself  a  suit  of  clothes,  when  he  designed 
returning  to  his  home  in  Philadelphia.  He  had  just  heard 
from  a  family  that  he  assisted  to  their  liberty,  some  of  whom 
had  become  quite  wealthy,  and  were  trying  to  find  him. 


torcsting 
lie  tabic, 
scd  eyes, 


IJaroliua, 
■  history, 
here  avji.s 
;he  same 
r.  Relhy, 
hcse  Icc- 
a  steady 
).  Kork's 

ppcaring 
•ty  years 
iine  was, 
1  served 
uiou  sol- 
th  four 
His  ill- 
ears  of 
Ills  ap- 
1  life  lie 
y  Avould 
ept  for 
f  other 
at   this 
)urs,  he 
enough 
lesigued 
ft  heard 
whom 
Id  him. 


0 


MARriA   COLTON. 


099 


lie  had  written  to  them  and  was  expeeting  to  reeeivo 
assistanee.  Whenever  he  went  out  ou  the  streets  he  was 
annoyed  by  half-grown  boys  hooting  alter  him,  "Old  John 
Brown,  nigger  thief."  At  the  time  he  was  arrested,  they 
took  all  of  his  money,  amounting  to  five  hundred  and  iil'ty- 
seven  dollars. 

I  visited  a  Baptist  Sabbath-school  where  three  thousand 
members  were  enrolled.  Over  one  thousand  five  hundred 
were  present.  They  were  addressed  by  Professor  Johnson, 
who  introduced  and  invited  me  to  address  the  school. 
They  very  cautiously  discussed  the  coming  holidays,  as 
they  had  never  held  one  there  on  their  own  account.  They 
decided  to  observe  Thanksgiving,  C'hristnias,  and  eelebralo 
the  Proclamation  of  Freedom  on  New  Year's  dav.  Their 
minister  advised  his  people  to  be  very  careful  in  word  and 
deed,  so  as  not  to  give  the  least  occasion  for  misconstruing 
their  motives.  Some  of  the  white  people  said  it  ought  not 
to  be  allowed.  They  feared  an  "uprising,"  but  our  soldiers 
said  they  should  have  the  privilege. 

I  visited  Howard  Grove  Hospital,  under  the  charge  of 
]\riss  iMarcia  Colton,  matron.  She  was  a  missionary  among 
the  Choctaw  Indians  nine  years,  and  was  a  noble,  self- 
sacrificing  woman.  The  surgeon  of  the  hospital  was  D.  R. 
Browery.  I  found  a  little  boy  of  about  eight  years,  whose 
mother  he  said  was  "  done  dead."  He  knew  nothing  of 
his  father.  I  took  him  to  Camp  Lee  Orphanage.  Hero 
and  there  I  find  kindred  s])irits,  but  none  more  devoted  to 
the  cause  of  Christ  than  sister  Marcia  Colton.  She  gave 
herself  entirely  to  the  advancement  of  his  cause  during 
nine  years  of  lalior  among  the  poor,  dcsj)i.sed  Indians. 
Dui'ing  the  terrible  conflicts  of  the  war  she  unreservedly 
gave  herself  to  the  suffering  and  dying  soldier,  and  she  said 
that  when  no  longer  called  for  in  that  field  her  life  was 
just  as  cheerfully  given  to  uplifting  the  lowly  among  the 
freed  slaves  of  the  South. 

Ou  visiting  the  State  Penitentiary,  the  keeper  hesitated 


! 


if 


'■■  f.  '? 


•^  '"^  ■ 


mm 


400 


A  woman's  life-work. 


i.U 


1       ;    i 

1    ( 

ii 

'i 

L 

about  allowing  ine  admittauce.  Said  lie:  "I  am  afraid 
you'll  give  a  bud  report  of  us,  a.s  did  Miss  Dix,  who  gave 
us  a  bad  nanio,  and  I  thought  of  her  as  you  entered  my 
office.  You  look  like  her,  and  I  am  afraid  of  you.  You 
kuow  we  don't  have  our  prisons  like  yours  of  the  North, 
like  grand  i)alaccs,  with  flower-yards;  and  I  reckon  1  had 
better  not  let  you  in."  I  told  him  I  j)erceived  they  were 
rel)uilding  the  part  burned  awhile  ago,  and  would  make 
due  allowance  for  bad  house-keeping. 

"Well,  if  you'll  do  that,  I  reckon  I'll  have  to  risk  you, 
for  you  '11  see  we  are  whitewashing  the  old  cells  and  other 
parts  of  the  prison,  and  then  you  must  make  allowance 
for  its  age.  It  was  built  iu  1800,  and  is  the  first  poniteu- 
tiary  in  the  world,  and  you  Northerners  have  had  all  these 
sixty-five  years  to  improve  in,  and  then  your  gardens  about 
your  prisons  are  all  so  grand  that  I  am  a  little  afraid  of 
your  report.  But,  steward,  you  nuiy  take  her  through, 
and  we'll  see  what  she'll  do  for  us." 

I  discovered  a  contrast,  it  is  true.  But,  as  in  other 
j)]accs  in  the  South,  they  seem  a  century  behind  the  times. 
I  found  here,  as  iu  our  State  prisons,  a  majority  of  the 
convicts  were  left  orphans  in  childhood.  The  number  of 
inmates  was  at  that  time  two  hundred  and  twenty-four.  I 
called  on  the  general  in  command  to  inquire  for  Oliver 
Williams,  whose  wife  rccpiostcd  me  to  see  if  I  could  find 
him.  She  was  in  Washington,  D.  C,  and  had  not  heard 
from  him  for  a  long  while.  I  found  he  had  been  sentenced 
to  three  months'  imprisonment  to  hard  labor,  with  ball  and 
chain,  but  the  time  had  now  expired.  The  general  referred 
me  to  Fortress  Monroe,  as  the  military  prisoners  had  been 
removed  to  that  prison.  He  advised  me  to  call  on  Gover- 
nor I'ierpont,  who  gave  the  same  reference,  and  gave  me 
some  interesting  items  concerning  this  State.  lie  said 
that,  but  for  slavery,  Virginia  would  have  been  one  of  ihe 
richest  States  in  the  Union  in  mines.  Colored  men  Avere 
then  making  a  dollar  a  day  in  gathering  gold  dust  without 


<y  V 


SKW    YKAR   CKLF,nilATI()\. 


401 


I  afraid 
lio  gave 
red  my 
I.  You 
North, 
u  1  had 
ey  were 
Id  make 

•isk  you, 
lid  other 
llowance 
poniteu- 
all  these 
lis  about 
afraid  of 
through, 


in 


other 
ic  times, 
of  the 
niber  of 
our.     I 
Oliver 
uld  find 
t  heard 
ntenced 
mil  and 
referred 
ad  been 
Gover- 
^avc  me 
lie  said 
e  of  ihe 
|en  Avere 
without 


the  facilities  of  euterprisinj,'  meu  with  capital.  There  were 
also  silver,  copper,  niekei,  and  a  fine  quality  of  kaolin  or 
port'eiain  clay,  lie  exhibited  a  specimen  of  each  metal, 
and  two  bowls  made  of  the  native  kaolin,  a  very  fine 
material.  To  show  the  absorbiii;^  interest  in  slave-dealiiij; 
he  j^ave  the  (i^'ures  of  income,  as  shown  dnrin<^  the  discus- 
Bions  in  their  State  Convention  in  l.S()l.  The  MetvopoJUitn 
PreM  reported  that  "the  income  fi'om  slaves  for  the  last 
twenty  years  amounted  to  twiMity  millions  of  dolhii's  annu- 
ally, and  from  all  other  products  eight  million  dollars 
annually."  This  CJovernor  I'ierpont  believed  to  be  a  true 
estimate. 

I  called  at  Barah  E.  Smiley 's  Teachers'  Home.  Here 
I  found  Uachel  Snell,  <lani,ditcr  of  Kicliard  Snell,  of  Lock- 
port,  New  York,  my  old  childhood  home.  With  this  group 
of  kindred  spirits  I  spent  a  refreshing  .season  during  a 
hard  rain. 

New  Year's  Day,  LSOG,  was  long  dreaded  by  a  large 
majority  of  the  white  citizens  of  liiclnnond.  (ircat  excite- 
ment prevailed  over  its  celebration  by  the  colored  people. 
Soldiers  were  seen  in  every  direction.  A  few  companies  of 
colored  men  went  on  the  common  to  organize  for  the  day's 
procession.  The  citizens  were  excited  over  that,  and  said 
they  were  pr(>paring  for  "insurrection."  They  had  per- 
mission from  the  governor  to  form  in  front  of  the  State 
House.  In  the  park  were  rustic  seats  of  ancient  style, 
chipped  off  and  notched  here  and  there,  yet  a  colored  per- 
son had  never  been  allowed  inside  unless  as  the  btxly 
servant  of  his  master.  But  now  their  banners  of  various 
devices  were  floating,  interspersed  with  United  States  flags. 
Each  society  had  its  motto,  such  as,  "Peace,  Liberty,  and 
Freedom  with  all  jMankind;"  "  Union,  Liberty's  Protecting 
Society;"  "Peace,  Good  Will  to  all  JMankind;"  "In  Union 
there  is  Strength;"  "In  God  we  Trust."  On  a  blue  satin 
banner  were  initials  of  a  P>enevolent  Protective  Association. 
The   religious   exercises  were   o{>ened   in   the   morning  by 

?A 


i 


fT"^ 


hr 


402 


.,  • 


A    W<J.MANtt    MFR-UOKK. 


.1  I 


"  ( 

'  II 

1  :    n 

,t  ' 


rciKliiif^  tlio  oi«^litli  chapter  of  Dciitcioiintny  nml  sliij^'lnp  an 
npproiMiate  liynm.  Tlii'  text  ul  the  niiiiislcr's  dlscDuisc  wna 
a  jKirt  oi'  tlie  second  verso,  'Anil  thou  !«halt  reiiicnihcr  all 
the  way  which  the  Lurd  thy  (Ind  led  thee  I'orly  years  in 
the  wilderness."  The  njniister  could  read  (ju'te  well,  thou^di 
his  lil'e  had  hecn  sj)ent  in  slavery.  lie  ]>resentel  tin;  jtast 
and  present  prospects  of  his  j)eoplo  in  a  ( lear  and  aflecting 
niainier,  and  the  necessity  ('f  remembering  the  past,  to 
he  fully  prepared  to  praise  God  fjr  the  prcv-'ious  hoju  of 
freedom  he  had  bestowed  upon  their  race.  There  were 
four  very  large  congregations  oi)ened  this  m  )rning  in  a 
similar  manner,  and  songs  of  praise  wore  heard  fr.-ni  the 
marching  midtitudes  wending  their  way  to  the  State  Mouse 
Park.  There  was  slux  ting  from  a  hotel  window.  Two  of 
the  suspected  men  were  taken  to  Libby  I'rison.  With  the 
soldiers  on  the  alert,  and  an  increased  force  of  policemen, 
they  had  no  further  trouble. 

At  the  meeting  of  fifteen  thousand  ( r  more  in  the  park 
good  order  prevailed.  I  i)assed  along  through  the  moving 
masses,  a  silent  listener  to  many  outburstings  of  joy,  con- 
trasting with  past  sorrows — a  great  change  indeed.  Editor 
Ilunuicult,  of  the  New  Xali'm,  was  called  upon  to  make  a 
spi-ech,  and  ho  exhorted  tliein  to  cultivate  industry,  hon- 
esty, and  virtue.  lie  was  followed  by  a  number  of  others. 
At  three  o'clock  the  crowds  began  to  disperse,  so  as  to  reach 
tlioir  homes  before  nightfall.  It  is  i)assing  strange  why 
the  wliite  jieople  here  were  so  much  excited  over  this  cele- 
bration. There  were  two  colored  Baptist  Churches  burned 
two  nights  before,  and  ou  the  night  previous  threats  were 
made  that  all  who  took  part  in  the  celebration  would  lose 
their  places  of  l)usiness. 

The  Episcopalian  rector  came  after  ten  P.  M.  the  same 
night  to  advise  the  two  teachers,  INIrs.  Starky  and  Miss 
Hicks,  to  continue  their  school,  and  persuade  the  scholars 
to  remain,  and  take  no  part  in  it  themselves  whatever,  as 
the  white  people  said  this  rejoicing  was  over  the  fall  of 


n^  nn 
<t>  was 
)er  all 

•ars  in 

le  \>aHt 
U'Cting 
•ast,  to 
Inon  of 
e  were 
t:  in  n, 

■;;m    the 
}  ll0U?rC 

Two  cf 
Vith  the 
Uccmcn, 

:hc  park 
moving 
oy,  con- 
Editor 
I  make  a 
try,  Uon- 
{'  others, 
to  reach 
nge  why 
his  cclc- 
i  ])urne(l 
ats  were 
)ukl  lose 

the  same 

lud  Mii^a 

scholars 

^tcver,  as 

fall  of 


DKA\VIN(}    llATlUNa. 


40:^ 


Riclimoiid  and  thi'  <lo\viifalI  of  the  ('oiifi-deracy.  This 
Idea  was  dwelt  upon  ti»  siieh  an  extent  thai  the  (,'ominittcc 
ol  Arranpjemeiits  |iriiited  eircuhirs  and  scattered  throngli 
town  dnrini:  the  week  previons,  stating  their  olject  in  full, 
"that  it  wan  only  to  celehrate  the  day  that  (lod  gave  free- 
dom to  their  race,  and  nothiiij;  more."  IJut  ^^  in.vo'trctinn" 
"  j/y^'/si/K/ among  the  negroes,"  had  hcen  household  words 
since  tile  days  of  Nat  Turner.  The  rehel  liai:;  was  carried 
past  Sarah  K.  Smiley 's  Mi>.-^ii'n  Ilmio  for  'leaehers  twice 
that  day.  Had  the  fiitt  heen  rt'purted  at  liead-iiuarlers, 
the  bearers  would  have  found  thciuselveii  in  the  military 
prison. 

As  the  army  was  heing  disbanded,  and  rations  curtailed, 
and  the  suliering  for  want  of  tiiem  ('(jualed  that  for  cloth- 
ing, I  was  inf  )rmed  by  the  general  in  command  that  there 
Averc  more  calls  for  rations  by  white  than  the  cftlori'd  peo- 
ple since  the  fall  of  Pjchmond.  Said  he:  "I  will  nu'nti  )u 
u  few  to  show  the  imixirtanco  of  investigation.  Daniel 
Lacy  had  nine  houses  and  servants  and  a)']»lied  for  and 
drew  rations  for  his  whole  family.  John  Kimbo  had  serv- 
ants out  at  work  and  drew  rations  for  all  his  (iuiiily,  and 
had  a  nund)er  of  houses.  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  ^loseby  had  a 
grocery  store  well  supplied,  and  drew  rations  and  sold  them. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Hunt  also  ke[it  a  full  grocery,  and  dr(.'W 
rations  to  sell.  Mrs.  St)phia  C-oach,  whose  husband  was  a 
plasterer,  drew  rations.  Mrs.  Miller  rei)resenti'd  herself  as 
a  widow,  and  drew  rations  all  the  season,  ])iit  I  found  out 
that  she  had  a  hus])and  at  home  all  this  time.  Mrs.  Hous- 
ton had  a  husband,  but  repr''sentcd  herself  a  widow,  and 
drew  rations  ami  wood,  as  did  all  the  others.  The  whole 
of  two  l)locks  drew  rations,  and  most  of  them  wood.  Jo- 
seph JNIayo,  who  is  mayor  of  the  city,  and  was  when  it  fell 
into  Union  hands,  drew  rations,  and  owns  a  number  of 
houses,  and  has  servants.  Ten  years  ago  his  slave  Marga- 
ret's babe  died  ■with  the  croup,  and  he  charged  her  with 
choking  it  to  death,  and  had  her  hung  cm  the  seaflbld  after 


111! 
Ill 

m 


tj' 


'-  <   141 
.  .  -J  tf  nl 

m 


404 


A    WOMAN  S    I.  IKK- WO  UK. 


r'l 


J      i         ! 


it  k 


i 


11 


mi^  J: 


1 


.   i 


■  i     ^ 


being  wlilppcil  alincst  to  lU'atli.  He  sent  one  of  his  ^lavc 
womi'ii  to  llie  jK'iiIlt'iitiary  six  months  ago,  for  a  trivial 
oflcnK'.  I  heard  hy  one  of  Iier  friends,  that  slie  .siid  it 
was  a  reliei,  for  she  was  treated  belter  there  than  at  her 
master's.  She  is  sj  rejoieed  to  k'arn  that  whin  she  cdnies 
out  slie  will  be  a  free  woman,  and  never  again  be  com- 
julled  to  serve  that  eruel  master.  But  what  contrasts  we 
find  here  in  both  races!  I  have  never  found  as  nuuh 
lying,  niisrejiresentation,  and  cheating,  among  the  negroes 
as  among  the  white  i)cople,  in  my  experience  in  this  four 
years  of  war.  Our  rec(  rds  sbov.  more  rations,  wood,  and 
coal  issue(l  to  the  whites  than  to  the  blacks  ill  the  State 
ol   V  ngniia. 

I  was  careful  to  take  down  thr?e  items,  in  writing,  as 
he  gave  them,  in  his  <  ffice.  O,  wb.at  changes,  what  re- 
verses, were  here  experienced.  A.  R.  Brooks,  who  bought 
himself  fourteen  years  ago,  was  now  a  wealthy  man,  owned 
ten  horses,  and  six  fine  hacks  and  carriages,  and  his  for- 
mer master,  hv  the  fall  of  the  Confi'derate  uoverninent, 
was  reduced  almost  to  beggary.  A  few  months  ago  he 
M)ld  his  j)lantation  of  tince  thousand  acres  for  Confederate 
money, and  is  now  pcjiniless.  Last  February  his  wife  died, 
and  his  former  slave,  A.  I\.  Brooks,  Ix  re  the  entire  expense 
of  her  burial.  He  said  he  praised  the  Lord  for  giving 
him  the  ability  to  do  it.  But  how  greatly  was  that  wealthy 
])lanter,  Ihnry  A.  Winfy,  now  changed  in  his  [Tosjiects, 
when,  a  few  months  before,  he  considered  himself  the 
owner  of  three  thousand  acres,  "well  stocked"  with  slaves 
to  work  it, 

AVith  every  tlay  come  new  scenes,  and  yet  such  a  simi- 
hirity;  investigating,  relieving,  reading  Scriptures,  advis- 
ing, and  often  by  the  cot  of  the  sick  an  1  dying.  I  often 
felt  mys(df  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land,  and  yet  I  was 
never  alone.  Although  boisti-rous  waves  dashed  around 
me,  yet  the  dear  Savior  was  near  at  hand. 

I  learned  of  much  sullering  ou  the  IVuinsuIa,  and  de- 


is  slave 
trivial 
.-aid  it 
at  lur 

L>  COIUI'S 
K'    CDin- 

rasts  WG 
s  nuu'h 

his  four 
)(k1,  aud 
le  State 

•itiiiir,  fi3 
what  rc- 
)  bought 
3,  owned 
his  for- 
■rnincnt, 
ago   he 
1  fed  crate 
ife  died, 
expense 
r  giving 
wealthy 
ospeels, 
self   the 
h  slaves 

1  a  siini- 
s,  advis- 

I  often 
't   I  was 

around 


ant 


I  de- 


LKAVINC;     lilCIIMOND. 


40") 


cided  to  take  the  rest  of  jny  snj>j)lio3  down  the  James 
River  to  AVillianisbnru'.  While  arrantiinir  niv  packages  for 
leaviuf^  Libhy,  a  multitude  of  j)eoi»le  wcn^  thronging  the 
streci;  near  the  prison.  I  imjuired  fir  the  cause  of  this 
excitement,  and  was  informed  that  a  Union  soldier  was 
about  to  be  executed  for  murdering  a  man  for  his  money, 
horse,  and  buggy.  As  he  was  led  out  of  j)ri.-on  upon  the 
scaffold  I  hurried  away,  trembling  with  the  terrible  thought 
that  a  voung  life  was  about  to  be  taken.  As  it  was  im- 
possible  for  me  to  speak  to  him  I  hastened  to  escape  the 
soiuid  of  the  drop,  but  did  not  succeed.  The  horrors  of 
war  no  [)tii  can  describe,  no  tongue  can  utter,  no  pencil 
can  })aint.  The  demoralizing  influence  over  the  soldier  is 
dreadful.  Xo  doubt  desertion  was  this  fellows  aim,  and, 
to  serve  his  purpose,  he  fell  inlo  this  strong  temptation 
and  crime.  Desertion  cost  the  lite  of  one  whom  I  .saw  in 
^Mississippi  sitting  on  a  white-pine  coHui  and  followed  by 
his  armed  comrades,  who  were  soon  to  take  his  life.  It 
was  then  as  now,  too  late  to  speak  a  word  to  that  soldiei-- 
boy.  And  I  hastened  to  outdistance  the  report  of  the  guns 
that  took  his  life.  But  I  failed,  as  in  the  present  .'^ad 
event. 

I  called  on  a  number  of  friends  and  co-laborers  in 
Iiichmoud;  for  here,  as  in  every  place,  I  have  found  kin- 
dred spirits.  I  spent  the  night  with  dear  sisters  in  Christ, 
Avho  labt)red  in  his  vineyard  to  uplift  the  lowly.  Scrip- 
ture reading  and  prayer  clo.<ed  this  eventful  day. 

On  March  Hd,  at  six  o'clock  A.  ^^.,  I  left  Richmond 
and  took  the  steamer  ^f^lrfi)l  at  the  Rockets,  followed  by 
mv  friend,  Mrs.  ^Morris,  with  a  i)asket  of  fresh  cakes, 
ap.jiles,  oranges,  and  a  bottle  of  wine.  I  a^ked  her  to  ex- 
cuse me  for  objecting  to  the  bottle  of  wine,  as  I  never 
drank  it. 

"().  indeed,  \o\\  must  take  it;  vour  mval  hiirhncss  mav 
])e  ill,  and  vou  may  liud  it  (piite  i)roi>er  to  take  a  little 
wine  f)r  vour  'stomach's  sake.'     Don't,  mv  dear  madam, 


^  .J 


mmBmmam 


406 


A    WOMAN'S   LIFK-WORIC. 


k   ■ 


'I 


I' 


refuse  your  most  humble  servant  the  privilege  of  jn'osent- 
iug  this  basket  aud  its  cuuteuts,  wiue  aud  ull,  to  my  ri^yal 
nuulaiu." 

Aud  I  saw  by  the  starting  tear  that  she  would  feel 
quite  hurt  if  I  refused  her,  and  accepted  her  gift. 

As  we  steamed  down  the  river  1  saw  many  little  hil- 
locks where  were  buried  the  fallen  soldiers  who  left  their 
northern  homes  with  high  hopes  of  saving  the  nation's  life 
from  the  hand  of  treason.  Here  they  fell  long  hcfbro 
liichmond  was  taken.  AVc  pa,<.-ed  Biirmuda  Hundred 
and  City  Point,  upon  which  stood  General  Grant's  head- 
quarters. Next  came  Harrison's  Landing,  near  President 
Harrison's  birth-place,  an  ancient  a})pearing  building  situ- 
ated upon  a  high  blufl'. 

At  Wilson's  Landing  and  Clarmount  Landing  there  "was 
a  high  bank,  upon  'which  lived  tmc  of  the  wealthiest  men 
in  the  >Statc  of  Virginia,  AVilliam  Allen,  who  adopted  llio 
name  of  his  father-in-law  for  the  sake  of  his  immense 
"wealth.  "William  Allen,  sen.,  had  no  son,  but  an  only 
dau<rhter,  and  he  ofF-Tcd  his  entire  estate  to  anv  voumr 
man  whom  his  daughter  might  be  j^h'ased  to  acce])t,  if  he 
Avould  assume  his  name;  ho  cared  not  how  poor  he  might 
be,  if  he  was  only  respectable.  The  daughter  had  many 
suitors,  but  nt  length  a  young  man  wi)n  this  bride  and 
adopted  the  whole  name — William  Allen.  At  the  death 
of  the  father-in-law  he  came  into  possession  of  thirteen 
plantations  and  over  four  thousand  slaves.  All  these  plan- 
tations were  managed  by  overseers.  One  man  told  me  ho 
had  seen  him  take  a  kc""  of  trold  and  silver  coins  down  to 
the  sand-bank,  with  a  company  of  his  comrades,  on  a  holi- 
day spree,  and  when  they  were  all  thoroughly  drunk  ho 
would  take  up  a  handful  of  gold  and  silver  jjieces,  throw 
them  in  the  sand,  and  tell  them  to  .fcramble,  and  he  that 
got  the  most  was  the  best  fellow.  Wo,  with  the  rest, 
"scrandiled,"  as  he  culled  it.  AVilliam  Allen  declared  that 
the    Yankees   had    robbed    him   of  fifty    thousand   dollars' 


rescnt- 
y  royal 

U  feci 

tic  liil- 
ft  their 
nxA  lifo 
bcioro 
Aimlretl 
s  hciid- 
rcsideiit 
ug  situ- 

icrc  "WHS 

L\st  men 
)[C(\  tlio 
inniensc 
u  only 

VOUUi' 

,  if  lio 
miglit 
nuuiy 
iJc  ami 
death 
thirteen 

■c  plan- 
nie  ho 
;)\vn  to 
a  holi- 

■unk  ho 
throw 
:u>  that 

le    rest, 

i-cd  that 
dollars' 


h 


AT    .lA^MKSTOWX. 


407 


worth  of  negroes  under  ten  }ears  of  age,  and  more  than 
one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  slaves 
above  that  age. 

At  twelve  o'clock  we  lauded  at  Jamestown.  In  this 
old,  dilapidated  place  were  yet  standing  brick  walls  of 
three  old  buildings  ()})cn  to  the  birds  and  the  bats.  The 
brick  of  these  half-torn  down  buildintrs  were  tran?])orted 
from  England  more  than  two  hundred  years  a'ro.  I  saw  a 
piece  of  a  marble  slab  from  the  graveyard  dated  1(520, 
broken  in  pieces  by  soldiers  for  relics.  We  wore  soon  met 
by  the  ambulance-driver,  and  he  took  us  through  a  nice 
field  of  wheat  owned  by  William  Allen,  just  referred  to, 
who  was  one  of  our  passengers  to  the  ancient  city  of 
Williamsburg.  Here  was  a  large  insane  asylumn,  built 
of  imported  bricks  from  England,  with  a  marble  front, 
erected  by  Lord  Bottetourt,  governor  of  the  colony.  It 
was  founded  in  1G88.  The  tower  was  ninety-six  feet  high, 
and  the  number  of  inmates  one  hundnnl  and  one,  forty- 
two  of  Avhom  were  colored.  Ilobert  ^I.  Garrett  was  the 
physician  and  superintendent.  This  is  the  oldest  institu- 
tion of  the  kind  in  the  Union.  In  the  front  yard  of  this 
asyhunn  stands,  in  life-size,  the  statue  of  Lord  Bottetourt. 
As  we  were  passing  through  the  a])artments  we  listened  to 
a  verv  sweet  voice  simrini;  a  hvmn.  S;rid  my  y:uide,  "^Ir. 
8cott  is  sin^inii  for  you.  He  is  General  Witifield  Scott's 
nephew.  He  bet  both  of  his  plantations  that  the  Confed- 
erates would  succeed  in  this  war,  and  wheti  Bichmond  fell 
he  became  insane  and  was  brought  here  two  weeks  ago." 

I  was  shown  an  old  brick  church  in  which  was  a  colored 
school  of  one  hundred  an<l  ninety-six  scholars,  taught  by 
]\[iss  Barton,  of  Connect'cut,  and  a  gentlenuin  from  ]Mieh- 
igan.  Here  I  found  myself  at  home  at  once.  There  were 
hero,  previous  to  the  late  war,  two  institutions  of  learning — 
the  William  and  !Mary  Gollego  at  one  end  of  the  main 
street,  and  at  the  other,  three  and  a  (juarter  miles  distant, 
the   female    seminary.      The   college    was    burned    in   the 


;;(!j>T 


r^    '0 


7f-^ 


408 


A    WOMAN  S    LIFI>\V()HK. 


'l  *'»! 


"\v.ir  of  1776,  again  in  the  war  of  1812,  and,  for  the  third 
time,  a  few  months  before  I  was  there.  There  was  no  school 
now  in  the  female  seminary,  and  it  looked  as  if  waiting 
for  repairs.  Here  is  the  old  ivy-bound  oiiureh  in  which 
George  Washington  was  married.  The  bricks  of  this  build- 
ing were  also  brought  from  England.  Tiiis  town  was  the 
capital  of  this  .State  jn-evious  to  its  removal  to  Riciimond. 

1  walked  nearly  two  miles  to  Fort  JNIagruder,  where 
I  found  a  colored  school  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight 
members,  taught  by  ]Maggie  Thorpe  and  Martha  Haines, 
of  New  York,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 
To  accommodate  men  and  women  who  could  not  leave 
their  work  during  the  day  they  opened  a  night  school,  and 
had  lifty  of  that  class.  Half  of  these  did  not  know  their 
letters  when  their  school  opened  in  February,  and  could 
then  read  quite  fluently  in  the  second  and  third  readers. 
A  few  miles  further  there  was  another  school  of  thirty 
scholars  who  had  made  commendable  progress. 

The  teachers  informed  me  that  there  were  many  very 
old  people  on  the  oldest  plantati(m  near  King's  jMill,  who 
needed  help.  I  was  furnished  with  an  ambulance,  in  which 
I  took  a  bale  of  bedding  and  clothing,  and  went  from 
cabin  to  cabin  to  visit  twenty-seven  aged  people,  from 
sixty  to  a  hundred  and  five  years  of  age.  After  learning 
their  most  urgent  needs,  I  selected  supplies  for  each.  AVhcn 
I  expressed  my  surprise  at  seeing  the  old  plantation  with 
such  a  grove  of  woods,  Uncle  Bob  Joues,  the  oldest  of  them 
all,  said: 

*'  Missus,  all  dat  woods  on  dat  side  I  helped  clar  off 
when  firs'  woods  was  thar,  beech,  maple  an'  linn  wood, 
only  now  an'  agin  a  pine.  Den  we  work  it  till  it  wore  out, 
an'  would  n't  noffin  grow  on  it,  an'  we  lef  it  to  grow  up  to 
dose  i)ines  you  see." 

"Is  this  possible?"  I  said.  "I  saw  men  chop[)ing  saw- 
mill logs  as  I  came  through  that  wood." 

"Yes,  missus,"  he  answered;  "share's  you  are  bo'ii, 


be  third 
lO  school 

waiting 
[1  which 
is  build- 
was  the 
L'hmoiul. 
;',  where 
f'ty-cight 

Haines, 
Friends, 
ot  leave 
Kjol,  and 
low  their 
ad  could 

readers. 
3f  thirty 

iny  very 
ill,  who 
n  which 

nt  from 
c,  from 
earning 
When 

Lion  with 
of  them 

clar  off 
n  wood, 
vore  out, 

)W  up  to 


I  nig  saw- 


ire  bo'u, 


A    NEW   QUIT.T. 


409 


my  sweat  lies  dar  under  dem  big  tree  roots.  My  Milla  an' 
nie  was  married  when  we 's  chillen,  an'  we 's  had  a  good 
many  chillen,  but  de  Lo'd  knows  whar  da's  gone  to;  da 
sole  down  de  riber,  many,  many  year  ago.  But  we  })rayed 
to  lio'd  Jesus  to  take  keer  on  'em  all  dese  years,  an'  we  '11 
go  home  to  glory  soon." 

In  answer  to  my  query  as  to  his  age,  he  said: 

"Massa  Moses'  book  say  I 's  a  hundred  an'  five,  an' 
my  Milla 's  a  hundred  an'  three.  I  might  slip  count  a  year 
or  two,  but  I  reckon  not." 

I  never  before  met  one  couple  living  to  this  advanced 
age.  I  gave  them  the  best  new  quilt  I  had,  made  by  a 
class  of  tSabbath-school  girls,  from  eight  to  fifteen  years  of 
age,  in  Wayne  County,  Michigan.  The  names  of  the  little 
girls  were  written  on  the  blocks  they  pieced.  The  old  man 
was  quite  blind,  but  he  felt  of  it;   then  he  exclaimed: 

"  iNIissus,  did  you  say  little  white  gals  made  this?  Lo'd 
bless  the  little  angels!  Ilouey,  look  at  dis;  we 's  ueber 
had  sicli  a  nice  bed-kiver  in  all  our  lives." 

To  this  she  assented : 

"  I  see  it 's  a  beauty ;  we 's  neber  had  sich  a  kiver  afore, 
missus;  tell  de  sweet  little  angels  we'll  pray  for  'em  as 
long  as  we  live." 

"Yes,  tell  'em  we  W(m't  stop  prayin'  for  'em  Avhen  we 
gits  up  yonder,  in  de  mansions,"  rejoined  the  old  man. 

It  seemed  to  them  wonderful  that  white  girls  should 
make  such  a  nice  quilt  i'or  black  f  ilks,  and  they  were  in 
an  ecstasy  over  the  surprise.  Aunt  Milla  could  see  to  do 
considerable  work  in  their  little  garden  patch,  that  some 
of  the  younger  men  among  them  had  spaded  for  her. 
p]very  thing  about  their  little  cabin  was  neat  and  clean, 
and  their  clothes  were  well  i)atched.  Uncle  Bob  had  been 
ofi' this  plantation  but  twice  in  his  life;  then  he  went  to 
Williamsburg.  It  was  alleeting  to  see  these  oKl,  worn-out 
slavfs  rejoicing  over  freedom,  but  it  seemed  to  be  more  on 
account  of  their  children  and  of  their  race.     They  had 


Hi 

I 


m 


OHB 


410 


A    woman's    J-IFE--\VnRK. 


u 


]):i.ssed  tlirough  many  luinl  trials,  but  tluiir  faltli  Avas  stroiif,^ 
that  tlicy  wtTo  snon  going  to  iv.st  with  Jesus. 

A  c'olorod  man  hrough:  two  crip[)l(S  to  iiic,  iu  his  cart, 
for  reliei',  and  ihuir  wants  wore  supplied.  lie  said  he 
wished  1  could  sec  two  old  men  who  "were  living  in  tho 
mill.  One  oi'  them  Avas  an  old  soldier  in  the  Jacksou  Avar. 
JMy  amhulancc  friend  took  mc  to  the  old  l)riek  mill,  that 
■was  tho  first  one  built  in  that  country,  they  said,  more 
limn  a  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago.  The  roof  Avas  coa'- 
cred  with  thick  moss.  The  cedar  shingles,  as  Avcll  as  bricks, 
Avero  bronght  from  E  igland. 

I  found  her  .i  liituiligent  mulatto  man,  of  about  sixty 
years,  Avho  had  had  :  ■  ;r-sorc  a  little  abo\'C  the  ankle  a 
number  of  years.  He  was  tl'C  eldest  of  twcnty-scA'cn  chil- 
dren. His  mother  '''  ul  thirlcen  pairs  of  twins,  and  he  the 
only  single  child,  and  tJu  y  Avere  all  sold  to  slave-dealers  of 
the  loAver  States. 

"When  my  mother  died  in  the  cold  cellar,"  he  told  me, 
"I  begged  to  see  her,  but  my  old  master  said  he  Avould 
shoot  me  if  I  dared  to  set  foot  on  his  plantation,  'case  I'll 
been  Avith  Yankees;  and  she  died  one  vear  auo,  Avithoiit  a 
child  to  give  her  a  sip  of  Avater.  ^[y  Avifc  and  seven  chil- 
dren bel(»ng  to  another  man,  Avho  said  he  Avould  shoot  my 
brains  out  if  I  dared  to  come  on  bis  ])lantati(m.  But  I  pray 
God  to  help  my  Avifc  to  go  to  the  soldiers  before  they  arc 
all  gone,  and  get  them  to  help  her  to  come  to  me  with  our 
children.  I  was  one  of  the  slaves  that  master  promised 
freedom,  at  the  chjse  of  General  Jackson's  Avar,  and  tho 
general  })romised  us  ten  dollars  a  mr-nth  besides  during 
.service,  Avhieh  was  one  year  and  eight  months.  There 
Avere  five  regiments  of  colored  men.  Some  got  their  free- 
dom as  j)roniis(>d,  but  my  master  and  many  others  Averc 
more  severe  than  ever.  On  my  return  home  I  reminded 
my  master  of  the  promise  of  freedom  by  him  and  General 
Jackson,  but  I  found  it  unsafe  to  say  any  thing  more  about 
it.     We  thought  (leneral  Jackson  ought  to  have  seen  the 


Mi      L'i 


I  pray 

icv  arc 

itli  our 

•oniised 

iiul   tlio 

during 

Thorc 

'ir  froc- 

rs  Avorc 

minded 

iciu'ral 

about 

con  the 


TWO    ACVAl    SISTERS. 


411 


promise  made  ^ood,  as  lonj^  a.s  he  i)r()mised  froodoin  as  well 
as  cur  niaslers.  lie  gave  us  ercdit  for  liciui,'  aiuoiitr  the 
best  sokliers  ho  had.  lint  we  never  wouhl  have  t'outrht  a.s 
we  did  had  it  not  been  lor  froe(h)in  ahead.  Wv  pledged 
ourselves  to  each  other,  that  we  never  would  figiit  for  white 
folks  again,  unless  wc  knew  our  freedom  was  siu'e.  And 
never  would  our  people  have  gone  into  this  war  had  it  not 
been  for  the  Proelamation  of  Emancipation  from  the  Pres- 
ident of  the  whole  United  States." 

This  man  was  the  most  intelligent  and  used  the  best 
language  of  any  colored  ])ers()n  of  his  age  I  met  in  this 
portion  of  Virginia.  His  mother's  name  was  Maria  Samp- 
son. She  lived  and  died  in  King  William  County,  Vir- 
ginia. There  were  twenty  sons  and  .seven  daughters  oi'  her 
own.  Yet,  througii  wicked  enactments,  her  master  tore 
from  her  every  one,  and  claimed  her  own  body  besides,  as 
a  valual)le  i)iece  of  property. 

My  next  visit  was  to  an  old  brick  kitchen.  In  the 
"  loft,"  lived  two  aged  sisters  of  seventy-five  and  eighty  years, 
whose  youngest  brother,  of  about  sixty  years,  was  insane. 
Ilis  sisters  said  about  twenty  years  ago  he  "  lost  his  mind." 
Ilis  wife  and  children  were  all  sold  from  him  down  the 
river,  and  he  grieved  so  long  over  it,  he  lost  his  mind,  and 
never  came  right  since.  As  I  entered,  I  took  him  bv  the 
hand  and  iiKpiired  for  the  aged  women  in  that  house;  he 
ixiinted  to  the  stairway.  As  I  was  going  up  the  stairs,  he 
danced  to  and  fro,  slapping  his  hands,  "  CJlory,  hallelujah 
to  the  Land)!"  I  {)aused  to  look  at  him.  Ilis  sisters  met 
me  at  the  head  of  the  stairs,  and  said,  "  Do  n't  mind  him, 
he  has  no  mind,  and  is  rejoicin'  to  see  a  white  woman  come- 
up  these  stairs,  for  it's  a  new  thing.  I  reckon  there  hain't 
been  a  white  woman  up  here  more'n  twenty  year,  an'  he 
don't  know  how  to  tell  his  gladni'ss."  They  said  he  was 
good  to  bring  them  wood  and  water,  and  take  care  of  him- 
self in  washing  and  patching  his  own  clothes.     I  j)resenteJ 


"i 


'  "  i         1 

m 

I?  5 

m 

^.1 


412 


A    W()>fA\'s    LIFE- WORK. 


) 

1 

I 

,1    .. 

1 

t 

1'  ,i' 


•    '!| 


liim  a  suit,  and  ulicii  ho  I'oiind  tliey  would  fit  him,  tho 
(UiiK'ing  jind  siii;,nii;;  wore  rosuinod.  1  shouM  jud^^c  from 
the  history  his  sistors  gave  of  him,  and  i'rom  his  high  foro- 
lioad,  that  hi;  iiad  boon  a  man  of  moro  than  ordinary  talont. 
Those  sisters,  too,  had  boon  made  widows  and  childless  l)y 
slavery's  eruel  hand.  This  1  found  to  be  the  hard  lot  of 
all  those  old  people.  They  told  me  of  many  cruel  over- 
seers, that  would  take  the  life  of  a  slave,  to  get  their  names 
up  as  "  boss  overseers."  I  told  them  I  had  heard  of  in- 
stances where  an  overseer  was  missing  occasionally.  One 
old  man  dropped  his  head,  then  looking  up  said,  iu  a  hes- 
itating manner,  "  I's  knowed  that  in  my  time,  l)Ut  massar 
keep  it  mighty  still,  an'  say  de  overseer  runnod  away,  an' 
he  git  one  right  soon  agin."  I  talked  and  read,  and  ottered 
prayer  with  these  stripped  and  lonely  ones. 

During  my  three  weeks'  stay  in  Williamsburg,  Fort 
IMagrudor,  and  vicinity,  I  had  a  number  of  meetings  with 
these  newlv  freed  slaves,  three  of  them  iu  those  old  slave- 
pens  in  which  wore  large  schools  taught. 

I  took  a  stroll  through  the  old  grave-yard  which  sur- 
rounded the  old  ivy-covered  cliurch.  The  marble  slabs 
\\oro  mostly  in  a  horizontal  position,  with  (piaint  inscri})- 
tions.  In  those  J,  or  I,  was  often  found  in  place  of  the 
figure  1.  Tho  spelling,  too,  we  should  call  badly  warped. 
1  copied  a  few  of  the  epitaphs,  as  follows: 

Here  lyes  the  Body  of  Mr.  John  Collelt,  who  departeil  this 
life  Fehiiuiry  24th,  J794,  aged  52  years. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  lames  Nicholson,  late  ftuard  of 
William  and  Mary  College.  Was  born  in  the  Town  of  Invenck, 
North  Hritton,  aiio  17U;  died  the  22nd  of  January,  1773.  Fru- 
gality— industry,  antl  simplicity  of  manners  and  indejiendence  of 
Soul  Adorneil  his  character  and  procured  universal  esteem. 

READER, 
T  earn   from   this  example  as  the  moft  exalted  Station  may  be  de- 
bafed  by  vice,  fo  there  is  no  fituation  in  life  on  which  virtue  will 
not  confer  DIGxNITY. 


lit; 


V   < 
',  i: 


led    this 


MKKTIXO    AT    IJAIIUAC'KS. 


i:i 


Mrs.  Catliarine  Stcplicnson  died  April  22;  Ixnii  in  Xottiiif;luiin- 
shiic,  J77S. 

Her  l)()dy  nmv  slumbers  aloiiL^  witli  ilu-  <le;ul ; 
Her  Savior  IkuIi  called,  to  liim  slie  lias  gmic; 
Ee  yc  also  ready  lo  follow  lier  soon. 

Under  this  niarlde  lielh  the  body  of  Tlujinas  l.udwell,  V.>i[., 
Secretary  of  Virginia,  who  was  born  at  llritton  in  of  Sununcrset  in 
the  kingdom  of  England,  and  departcil  this  life  in  the  year  J67S; 
and  near  this  place  lye  the  bodies  of  Richard  Kerdp,  Es(p,  Ids 
predccefsor  in  ye  Secretary's  office  and  Sr. 

Thomas  Lunsford,  Kt.,  in  memory  of  whom  this  maiMe  is 
placed  by  order  of  Philip  Ludwell,  E^n.,  nephicu  of  the  faid 
Thomas  Lmlwell,  in  the  year  J727. 

As  Yorktowii  was  an  iiiiport:iiit  post,  after  throe  weeks' 
work  in  tliis  section,  I  repaired  to  tliat  ancient  j)hiee. 
There  I  foiuul  two  large  camps.  A  few  large  freednien's 
schools  were  established  under  the  auspices  of  rhiladelphiti 
Friends,  and  of  these  Jacob  Vining  had  .^^uijervision.  Two 
others  were  under  the  supervision  of  the  American  ^lis- 
sionary  Association.  Both  wt:re  doing  a  noiilc  work  iur 
these  pcojile,  who  were  like  hinigry  children,  gnisping  at 
the  food  handed  them  by  these  C'hristitin  teachers. 

We  had  a  very  large  meeting  in  the  old  barracks  fitted 
up  for  school  and  meetings.  There  were  more  than  coidd 
get  inside,  and  groups  stood  at  tlie  door  and  outside  the 
windows.  Here  I  met  two  yovnig  men  who  had  walked 
all  the  way  from  beyond  Fort  ]\lagrudcr,  eighteen  miles,  to 
attend  this  meeting.  They  were  more  intelligent  than  the 
larger  portion  of  lifedong  slaves.  They  were  encouniged 
in  the  future  prospect  of  freedom.  They  said  the  white 
j)eople  declared  they  woidd  soon  have  all  their  .slaves  back 
utrain,  the  same  as  they  had  l)efore  the  war.  Said  one, 
"They  talk  it  so  strong  it  mtikes  us  trimble.  For  we-iuis 
think  they'd  be  htirder  on  us  than  ever."  I  tohl  them  to 
look  at  that  strong  fort  built  by  Confederates,  whicti  they 
luid  said   "all   the   Yankees  of   the  North  could   never 


lit 


Hi 


!! 


•i 


m 


■It- 


w 


^mt 


I 


}  \ 


ill* 


III 


! 

! 

t 
( 

1 

; 

i 

rt 

I* 

^! 

? 

.     1:: 

1    ■ 

J  . 

;    .   1 

i 

* 

■ ':  n 

J. 

i.u, 

414 


A    WOMAN  S    I-II-M;-W()UK. 


take."  "And  wiicrc  is  it  now?"  I  said.  "You  iiiav  rest 
[issured  it  will  bo  as  I  repeated  to-day,  '  Exeej)t  the  Lord 
keep  tlic  city  the  watehinan  walketh  but  in  vain;  exeept 
the  Lord  build  the  house  they  labor  in  vain  who  build  it.' 
The  Lord  will  never  permit  the  house  of  boiwhige  to  be  re- 
built, for  tlie  euj)  of  our  nation's  wickedness  has  been  tilled 
to  the  brim.  They  will  never  again  barter  for  j)altry  gold 
the  bodies  and  souls  of  those  whom  Christ  died  to  redeem 
with  his  own  precious  blood.  No,  never."  They  W(>pt, 
while  talking  over  the  past,  with  new  ho])es  before  them  of 
their  future.  They  said  they  were  well  paid  for  their  long 
walk,  though  they  should  work  the  next  day  with  blistered 
feet.  They  were  working  for  their  old  owner,  as  he  had 
promised  to  pay  them.  They  had  sometimes  felt  fearful  as 
to  the  final  result  of  this  war.  If  there  were  doubts,  they 
would  go  as  far  North  as  they  could  while  they  were  enjoy- 
ing their  present  liberty. 

A  number  lingered  to  talk  with  me  on  the  prospect  of 
freedom  or  slavery  for  them,  telling  me  of  the  positive 
expressions  of  their  former  masters,  and  of  their  thrifts 
of  having  them  all  back  again  within  a  few  months.  They 
Avanted  to  know  what  the  j^rospect  was  in  Washington. 

"  Do  you  think  we  are  sure  to  come  out  of  the  wilder- 
ness?" said  one. 

"  Will  this  sun  of  freedom,  now  peepin'  troo  de  black 
cloud,  come  cl'ar  out,  an'  make  a  bright  day?"  said  an- 
other. 

I  found  many  of  these  people  in  trouble,  because  they 
saw  plainly  the  old  slave  sj/irit  reviving,  and  they  were 
trembling  with  fear;  but  others  luid  stronger  faith.  There 
was  one  poor  woman,  whose  husband  and  four  children 
were  sold  to  a  trader,  to  ))e  taken  down  the  river  in  a 
gang.  When  the  news  came  to  her  master's  home  that 
Kiehinond  had  fliUen,  she  said  : 

' '  ^lissus  an'  all  was  cryiu', .  and  say  da  catch  Jeff. 
Davis.     Au*  I  hurried  de  supper  on  de  table ;  an'  I  say, 


AUNT   HAM.Y 


41 


D 


Missus,  rati  Dillji  wait  (Hi  (ahlo  till  F  go  to  de  bnsh-spriu<,' 
nil' git  a  l)iirkct  o'  vn(<\  vvatcri"  She  say,  'Hurry,  .Mill;' 
an'  I  K'cii  Vm  all  dcwn  to  tjil)l('  afuif  I  starts.  Dtii  I 
Malks  slow  till  I  git  (iit  o'  sight,  whvu  I  niiiiul  wid  all 
my  might  till  I  git  to  de  spring,  an'  look  all  'round,  an'  I 
jump  up  an'  .scrcain,  '(ilory,  glory,  hallelujah  to  Jtsus! 
J  'h  tree!  I  's  free!  Glory  to  (iihI,  you  come  down  an'  IVco 
us;  no  big  nuin  could  do  it.'  An*  I  got  sort  o' scared, 
af'carcd  somehody  hear  me,  an'  I  takes  another  good  look, 
nn'  fall  on  do  groun',  an'  roll  over,  an'  kiss  do  groun'  iW  do 
Lord'.s  .sake,  I  '.s  so  full  o'  pniise  to  Msissar  Jesus.  He  do 
all  (lis  great  work.  De  soul  buyers  can  neber  take  my 
two  chillen  lef  mc;  no,  nelu'r  can  take  'em  from  nio  no 
mo';"  and  the  tear.s  fell  thick  and  fa.st  as  she  told  mo  how 
she  clung  to  lier  husband,  then  to  her  children,  as  the 
trader  took  them  to  the  tlavc-pen  to  lock  u[)  till  they  were 
ready  to  start  f<n*  the  river.  Her  mi.stress  ordered  her  to 
be  whipped  because  she  cried  so  h^ng  for  her  husband  and 
children.     I  did  not  wonder  at  her  ecstasy. 

A  poor  old  slave,  called  Aunt  Sally,  came  to  me  April 
15th,  crippled  with  rheumatism,  and  walkmg  as  well  as 
she  could  with  two  canes.  She  asked  for  a  blanket  or 
<|uilt,  saying  that  one  old  blanket  had  been  her  oidy  bed 
for  seven  years.  I  told  her  I  should  pass  her  home  the 
the  next  day,  and  would  bring  her  some  things.  She  said, 
*'  r  mus'  hurry  back,  or  missus  will  fin'  me  out.  You  gib 
'em  to  the  man  choppin'- wood  in  de  yard;  he'll  put  'em 
in  de  cellar  for  me.  Missus  is  mighty  hard  on  you  alls ;" 
and  she  hobbled  back  as  fast  as  she  could  with  two  canes. 
But  her  mistress  found  out  that  she  had  been  to  see  me, 
and  told  her  she  should  never  set  her  foot  inside  her  yard 
again,  neither  should  a  Yankee.  The  day  following  I  took 
a  package  for  Aunt  Sally,  containing  a  straw  l)ed-tick, 
<juilt,  blanket,  and  a  good  suit  of  clothes;  for  I  had  learned 
that  Mrs.  Pendleton,  the  daughter  of  ex-President  Taylor, 
was  a  hard  mistress.     Aunt  8ally  had  served  her  father, 


m 


j:\f 


,'>  i 


U  '*' 


»1*. 


u 


lli!^ 


i 


41G 


A    WOMAN  S    I.IFK-WOUK. 


< 

1 

I 

t 

i 

i 

1 

'.*  Wa 

jind  liolpod  l)riii;,'  up  liis  cliildivn,  and  was  now  scvonty- 
livo  1)1*  eighty  years  old.  From  the  cold,  damp  cellar,  uitli 
oidy  oiu'  hlaiikcL  to  cover  lnr,  dvc  hud  become  badly  crip- 
|)lid,  and  was  lei'L  to  die,  like  au  old  wurii-out  horse. 

Tlu!  colored  man  near  tin;  linee  of  the  back  yard  told 
me  1  would  find  Aunt  Sally  in  a  little  cabin  ho  pointed 
out,  with  two  old  colored  peoj)le.  I  found  lu-r  cryinj:^.  She 
t^aid  her  mistress  had  turn(!d  her  out,  and  told  her  she 
should  never  come  inside  iior  yard,  nor  eat  a  kernel  of  tho 
corn  that  she  had  j)lantod  in  ground  all  spaded  by  her- 
self, and  it  was  growing  so  nice.  The  old  people  very 
kindly  offered  to  share  with  her.  He  was  a  cobbler,  and 
made  all  he  could;  but  he  said  they  had  but  one  bed.  I 
furnished  one  for  her,  and  gave  the  old  people  a  quilt  and 
a  few  needed  garments  for  their  kiutlness  to  Aunt  bally. 
They,  too,  had  been  stripped  of  all  their  large  family,  as 
well  as  Aunt  Sally  of  hers. 

As  I  passed  Mrs.  Pendleton's  front  yard  I  saw  a  large 
bloodhound  on  the  door-step  as  sentinel.  Even  a  look  at 
him  from  the  street  brought  a  threatening  growl. 

Here,  too,  were  William  and  Phillis  Davis,  over  eighty 
years  of  age,  they  think.  They  had  foin-teen  children, 
"all  sold  down  the  river,"  they  said,  "except  those  we 's 
got  in  heaven.  V\\)  's  glad  they  's  safe,  au'  we  trus'  de 
jubilee  trumpet  will  roach  their  cars,  Avay  down  Souf,  we 
do  n't  know  whar.  We  's  cried  for  freedom  many  years, 
an'  it  come  at  last,"  said  the  old,  tottering  man. 

Eva  Mercer,  over  seventy-five  years  of  age,  ha<l  a  large 
family.  Her  husband  and  all  her  children  were  sold 
twenty  years  ago.  She  had  been  left  to  i)erish  alone,  and 
had  had  no  underclothes  for  seven  years.  She  was  sup- 
j)lied,  and  made  more  comfortable  than  she  had  been 
for  years. 

David  Cary,  one  hundred  years  old,  in  great  sufferhig, 
was  relieve<l.  He,  too,  had  a  large  family.  Three  wives 
were  sold  from  him,  and  his  children,  one,  two,  and  three 


n:|  Si 


nAPTIST   Mr.F.TINO. 


417 


largo 


nt  a  time,  were  sent  down  tho  river,  uovor  to  bo  iioanl 
from  ii^ain.  Ho  i^aiil  he  t'orijot  a  j^rcat  tiianv  tilings  every 
(lay,  "  Imt  I  can  never  forj^et  the  ^rief  I  pansetl  thr()u;^h 
in  j)artin^'  with  my  good  wives  and  ehillens." 

Pross  Tai)I),  ninety  years  old,  was  tnrned  out  of  his 
?al)in,  and  came  to  the  captain  cryiii),'.  lie  said,  "  Massar 
Tabb  tnrn  me  out  to  die  l)y  do  roadside.  1  be<;<j:ed  him  to 
let  me  build  mo  a  cabin  in  de  woods,  and  he  say  if  I  cut 
a  stick  in  his  woods  he'll  shoot  me."  The  captain  in- 
formed J.  P.  Tabb  that  he  would  vit)latc  tho  martial  law, 
and  be  fined  and  imprisoned,  if  he  turned  that  old  man 
out  of  his  cabin,  where  he  had  lived  and  served  him  many 
years.  The  })oor  lone  man  was  permitted  to  remain.  J. 
P.  Tabb  owned  twelve  thousand  acres  of  land,  and  had 
called  himself  master  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  slaves ; 
now  all  had  left  him. 

8inulay,  ^lay  8d,  was  a  beautiful  Sabbath.  In  the 
morning  I  attended  service  at  the  .school-house,  conducted 
by  a  J5aptist  minister,  who  examined  nine  new  converts. 
Among  them  was  a  little  girl,  Susan  Monroe,  eight  years 
old.  Tho  preacher  asked  her,  "What  have  you  got  to  say 
'bout  Jesus,  sis  ?" 

"  He  tuck  de  han*  cuffs  off  my  ban's,"  she  replied,  "  an' 
de  spanccls  ofl'  my  feet,  an'  Jesus  made  me  free." 

With  a  few  other  satisfactory  answers  he  passed  to  the 
next,  a  man  of  forty,  perhaps:  "And  what  have  you  to 
tell  us?" 

"It  'j)eared,"  he  said,  "like  Ps  so  heavy  here,  on  njy 
heart.  I  could  do  nuffin  but  groan,  'Massar  Jesus  have; 
pity  on  poor  me;*  an'  as  I  was  a  walkin'  Tong  de  road,  he 
cum  sure,  an'  poured  hisself  all  over  me,  an'  cover  <A'er 
my  ban's  an'  my  feet,  an'  made  me  all  over  new.  I  say  is 
dis  me?  Glory,  hallalujahl  dis  is  me.  I  went  on  an'  met 
sis  Molly.    'What's  de  matter  o'  me?  its  all  full  tide  here,' 

he  answerei' 


ay! 


^hy 


loy, 


y 


pi-aise  de  Lord  !     Now  keep  de  pure  stuff,  do  n't  trade  it  off 


Ml 


if! 


j|.l 


'm 


* 


I  IP'  I 

1  TffH    f 


'U 


:   I 


418 


A  avuman's  life-wouk. 


for  dc  devil.'  An'  by  de  help  o'  do  Lord,  I  do  n't  do  any 
sich  tradin'." 

The  next  was  queried.  "Ah,  I 's  played  de  fool,"  ho 
said,  "in  jist  dat  kind  o'  tradin'.  I 's  an  ole  backslider. 
Ole  Satan  iiad  me,  sure,  an'  I  cried,  *  j\Iassar  Jesus,  save 
me  from  dat  horrible  pit,'  an'  he  fotch  me  out,  an'  i)ut 
desc  feet  on  do  rock,  and  here  I  means  to  stan'." 

Others  •\vcrc  examined,  and  a  season  of  prayer  fol- 
lowed. Their  prayers  were  nuirked  for  their  originality 
and  earnestness.  Said  one  woman,  "  Oh  Lord,  do  plea.se 
hitch  up  your  cheer  a  little  nearer  your  winder — draw'  aside 
your  curtain,  an'  look  down  'pon  us  poor  creturs,  au'  gib 
your  table-cloth  a  good  shake,  dat  wo  may  pick  up  a  few 
crumbs." 

There  were  many  of  these  much  more  intelligent  than 
I  su[)posed  I  should  find  them,  and  used  as  good  language 
as  the  white  people.  House-servants  and  body-servants 
Avere  more  intelligent  than  those  who  lived  only  in  the  field. 
They  were  very  imaginative,  and  talked  with  God.  One 
woman  in  giving  a  sketch  of  slave  life,  said  a  young  girl 
went  to  a  night  meeting  contriuy  to  orders,  and  for  so 
doing  was  stripped  naked  and  whipped  in  the  presence  of 
the  other  slaves,  the  master  himself  i)lying  tl.e  lash.  While 
she  cried  for  mercy  her  master  replied,  "I'll  give  you 
mercy."  "  Good  Lord  do  come  and  help  me."  "  Yes,  I  '11 
help  yo"u"  (and  kept  plying  the  lash).  "Do,  Lord,  come 
now;  if  you  ha' n't  time  send  Jesus."  "Yes,  I'm  your 
Jesus,"  retorted  the  inhuman  persecutor,  and  he  continued 
to   ply  the    lash    until    thirty   strokes   were   well   laid   on. 

The  colonel  6ommanding  this  pt)st  called  on  me  with  a 
re(piest  to  go  to  Gloucester  Court-house,  to  look  after  the 
condition  of  the  freedmen  there.  There  were  several  very 
old,  cri|)pled  j)eople  in  (iloucester,  in  almost  r  nude  condi- 
tion. 1  agreed  to  go,  and  the  colonel  went  to  procure  a 
buggy,  as  his  own  was  broken ;  but  he  failed  to  get  one, 
though  more  than  a  double  price  was  ofl'cred,  Ijecause  he 


A    I51lI(;ADIKri-(ip:NP:RAT-. 


419 


gir 


irl 


one, 
be  he 


^vas  a  Yankee.  He  returned  discouraged,  as  lie  was  un- 
Avilling  to  send  me  in  a  Virginia  cart,  the  only  govern- 
ment conveyance.  I  told  him  1  had  frequently  seen  the 
•Nvealthiest  ladies  sitting  on  straw,  with  no  other  scat  in  tlie 
cart.  ''  O  yes,"  he  answered,  "  the  F.  F.  Y.'s  ride  in  that 
way  liere.  But  you  look  too  much  like  my  mother  to  see 
you  go  in  that  style.  I  could  not  hear  to  have  your  chil- 
dren in  Michigan  know  that  I  sent  their  mother  out  to  ride 
thirty  miles  in  that  way ;"  and  tears  fdled  his  eyes,  as  he 
referred  to  his  own  mother  in  his  far  oil'  Northern  home. 
I  told  him  if  I  could  accomplish  any  geud  hy  going,  I  was 
more  than  willing  to  take  the  cart-ride,  as  I  could  make  a 
Beat  with  my  hale  of  clothing,  and  thus  1  went. 

I  crossed  York  Iviver  at  Cdoucester  Point,  and  stepped 
into  a  store  to  wait  for  our  soldier  driver.  Here  a  South- 
ern brigadier-general  addressed  me  in  the  following  stvle  : 

"I  reckon  you  are  from  the  North,  madam." 

"  I  am  from  tlie  State  of  Michigan,"  I  said,  "  but  more 
directly  from  Washington." 

"  You  Nortliern  people  can  not  bo  satisfied  with  rob- 
l)ing  us  of  millions  of  dollars  in  slaves,  that  were  just  as 
much  our  property  as  your  horses  and  cattle,  but  you  stole 
our  sheep  and  horses,  or  any  thing  else  you  could  get 
liands  on  ;  and  yet  that  was  not  enough.  Now  you  have  a 
bill  in  Congress  to  rob  us  of  our  land,  and  of  course  it  will 
j)ass.  Then  we'll  go  to  work  and  mix  up  a  little  cake  to 
bake  for  our  families,  and  you'll  come  and  snatch  even  that 
away  from  us." 

"  You  probably  refer,"  I  said,  "  to  the  l)ill  just  intro- 
duced, to  allow  the  Iradrm  in  this  Rebellion  no  more  tlian 
twenty  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  real  estate,  confiscating 
the  bidance,  to  sell  in  parccds  to  the  soldiers  and  poor  peo- 
j)le,  black  or  white,  on  liberal  terms,  to  liijuitlale  the  ivnr 
ih'bt.  This  debt  would  never  have  been  contractcul,  had 
not  the  South  brought  ou  the  war.  You  fired  upon  Sum- 
ter; you  deterniiued  to  sever  the  Uuiou.     It  was  a  bargain 


}lfi 


k 


\\f 


.1 

:»; 

^.i^ 

..1 

', 

1'^ 

1 

il'i'il 


420 


A  woman's  lifk-work. 


of  yoTir  (nvn  making.  You  (Ictcrininod  to  make  slavery 
the  chief  corner-stone  of  the  Ue])ul)lic,  hut  another  st(7ne, 
lAhrrUj,  has  ground  it  to  powder.  We  had  l)etter  accei)t 
the  situation  as  we  find  it,  and  not  call  each  other  thieves 
and  rohhers  because  your  chief  corner-stone  is  no  more.  God 
never  designed  that  we  .should  make  merchandise  of  human 
beings.  \\\  the  written  Word  Ave  find  that  God  made  of 
one  blood  all  the  nations  of  the  earth.  We  find  there  no 
lines  of  distinction  because  of  color  or  condition.  Now  let 
us  drop  slavery  and  hold  it  no  longer  as  the  bone  of  con- 
tention, and  live  henceforward  a  united  nation." 

With  flushed  face  and  flashing  eyes  he  said,  "iVcvo", 
NEVER  shall  we  give  up  our  rights.  We  acknowledge  you 
have  overpowered  us,  ])ut  you  have  not,  arid  never  will, 
conquer  us;  we  shall  yet  in  some  way  secure  our  rights  an 
Southerners,  notwithstanding  all  your  Northern  preaching." 

"If  you  carry  out  your  position,"  I  rejoined,  "you  will 
unite  with  some  foreign  power  to  break  up  our  government, 
or  to  grind  its  republican  form  into  powder  and  scatter  it 
to  the  four  winds." 

'Of  course  we  should,  and  you  can't  blame  us  for  doing 
that.  It  is  just  exactly  what  we  shall  do  if  we  have  the 
chance." 

After  a  few  minutes'  unpleasant  talk  of  this  sort  our 
soldier  drove  in  front  of  the  door  for  me.  We  borrowed  a 
little  box,  upon  which  a  coflee  sack  of  clothing  was  laid, 
and  we  thus  male  a  comparatively  comfortable  seat. 

We  reached  GIvMcester,  and,  on  ]May  lOth,  went  to  the 
office  of  C'aptirm  MeConnell.  He  was  engaged  all  the 
*m(»rning  in  hearing  complaints  «»n  the  part  of  the  freedmeu 
and  in  adjusting  their  wrongs.  »Some  of  them  were  pitiable 
eases  of  outrage,  but  we  can  not  report  them  here.  There 
were  eight  difHculties  settled  within  the  few  h(Hirs  that  I 
remained  in  the  ofliee.  I  resumed  visiting  and  supplying 
the  wants  of  the  destitute  as  far  as  my  means  would  allow. 
There  were  some  old  and  crippled  i)eople  here  iu  the  same 


doing 


to  the 

all  the 

ednu'U 

)iti!il)le 

TJR're 

that  I 

plying 

uIIdw. 

e  same 


YOllKTOWN. 


421 


condition  as  those  Avhoni  I  had  relieved  in  other  places  in 
this  part  of  the  State.  As  usual,  I  took  wiili  me  my 
Bible,  lor  these  colored  })cople  had  none,  hecause  they  had 
}jcver  hcen  permitted  to  learn  to  read.  Many  of  them 
gave  tlnilling  sketches  of  their  experiences  in  slave-life. 

On  May  13th,  at  four  o'clock  P.  M.,  1  found  myself 
back  at  Old  York  town.  Here  I  visited  the  cave  in  which 
General  Coruwallis  was  found.  The  old  wood  house  in 
which  the  treaty  was  signed  is  covered  with  tliick  moss. 
A  two-story  brick  building  was  Washington's  head-quarters 
after  he  took  possession  of  Yorktown.  It  was  also  tho 
headquarters  of  the  Union  generals  after  it  fell  into  their 
hands.  Here  was  the  stamping-ground  of  two  great  armies. 
The  contention  was  not  now  with  British  red-coats,  as  in 
the  Revolution,  i  ut  with  our  brethren  in  gray.  Ilichard 
Lee,  an  cx-slavc-holder,  undertook  to  whip  a  colored  man 
with  the  help  of  his  overseer,  after  the  old  style,  but  in 
the  struggle  he  found  himself  cut  in  two  or  three  places, 
and  the  blood  was  flowing  pretty  freely  from  the  overseer. 
The  colored  num  told  them  whipping  days  were  past,  and 
he  came  out  of  the  afl'ray  with  but  few  scratches.  His 
oflense  was  refusing  to  work  on  iSunday  afternoon.  Tliey 
entered  no  c(»mplaiut  at  the  office  of  the  Freed nien's 
Bureau,  and  the  colored  man  weut  about  his  business 
unmolested. 

After  taking  leave  of  many  dear  friends  at  this  place, 
through  the  kindness  of  sister  Ailsgood,  the  nuitron  of  the 
Teachers'  Home,  I  was  conveyed  to  the  Ixuit  in  Lieutenant 
IMassy's  carriage.  We  enjoyed  a  i)eautiful  run  on  the 
C'liesapeake.  Among  our  passengers  for  Norfolk  was  a 
yomig  lady  who  seemed  bright  and  gay,  but  had  nearly 
spvtiled  herself  with  afi'ectation.  .She  was  going  to  visit  her 
aunt  previous  to  enteruig  upon  her  new  duties  in  teaching 
a  school. 

"I  never  did  do  any  thing  of  the  kind,"  she  told  me; 
"but  pa  says  I  nuist,  now  tliat  we  have  lost  all  our  serv* 


f'i 

m 


f 
till 


)     ! 

.'  ' ' 


y/\i 


t 


i 


;.'ff  , 


M  i' 


1  i  ^f  rf  '■ 

IliliuiL 

^ 


422 


A   woman's   LIFK-WORIC. 


ants  by  this  mvAil  Avar.     But  I  don't  know  how  I'll  do. 
Do  you  think  I  can  tench  a  small  school?" 

Kcccivin-^  a  woivl  of  eiicouraircnicnt,  she  went  on: 

"1  reckon  I'll  have  to  try.  We've  always  had  a  lady 
precept lesd  at  our  house,  besides  the  nurse,  to  take  care 
of  us." 

A  few  niinutes  after  I  saw  her  weeping  l)itter]y,  as  if 
her  heart  was  nearly  broken.  Placing  my  hand  upon  her 
shoulder  I  incpiired  if  she  had  heard  bad  news  that  was 
grieving  her?  8he  sobbed  and  sighed  with  quite  an  effort 
in  commanding  her  feelings  to  sjicak. 

"  Xo ;  do  you  see  that  man  yonder  with  a  light  hat  on?" 

"Yes." 

"Well,  he  winked  at  me,  and  I  was  never  so  insulted 
in  my  life." 

And  she  burst  again  into  tears. 

"Don't  grieve  over  that,"  I  said;  "I  wouldn't  look 
at  him." 

"But  I  never  was  so  insulted.  I'm  so  glad  my  bnjther 
ain't  here;  I  tell  you  there 'd  be  trouble." 

"Never  mind;  don't  notice  him." 

"Won't  you  stand  by  me?" 

"Yes;  I'll  stand  here,"  I  answered.  And  she  soon 
became  calm,  when  I  thought  it  safe  to  leave.  But  a  few 
moments  later  I  saw  her  weeping  as  hard  as  ever.  I  went 
across  the  cabin  to  her  relief  the  third  time  and  inquired, 
"What  is  the  trouble  now?" 

"He  wiid<ed  at  me  again,  and  I  never,  never  was  so 
insulted.  I  know  if  my  brother  was  here  he'd  shoot  him, 
for  he'd  never  stand  this." 

I  stood  by  her  this  time  till  I  saw  her  in  the  ladies* 
dressing-room,  by  her  recpiest  remaining  between  her  and 
the  object  of  her  fears,  who  was  at  least  fifteen  feet  from 
us,  sitting  in  the  farthest  end  of  the  cabin.  After  she  had 
washed  and  combed  her  hair  she  asked,  "How  does  my 
hair  look?     i  never  combed  my  hair  niyself.-  Our  nurse 


A    SOrTHKIlN-    CiWU.. 


423 


a  lew 
[  Avcnt 


uirec 


,-ag  so 
k  biin. 


ladies' 


ler  anc 


I 

[t  from 
Ihe  hail 
l)OS  luy 
nurse 


did  that  always,  until  six  months  ago  our  last  servant  left 
us.  I  don't  know  if  it  looks  well  anyhow,  for  I  don't 
know  how  to  dress  it.  And  do  my  eyes  look  as  if  I'd 
been  crying?" 

"Not  to  1)0  noticed,"  I  f^aid.     "You  look  all  right." 
"AVill  you  see  if  tliat  follow  has  gone  out?" 
On  the  report  that  ho  had  left  she  returned.    I  inquired 
if  she  was  alone. 

"O,  no,  not  entirely;  pa  put  mo  under  the  care  of  a 
splendid  man;  I  reckon  he's  on  deck;  O,  he's  such  a  beau- 
tiful gentleman;  he  was  pa's  overseer  a  good  many  years; 
pa  thought  ho  couldn't  carry  on  our  ])lantation   without 
him;  when  I  sec  him  I'll  be  all  right.     I  reckon  you've 
heard  of  my  pa.    Everybody  knows  him — Mr.  llumpton — 
in  Gloucester  County,  one  of  the  most  splendid  counties  in 
the  State.     AVero  you  ever  in  Gloucester  County?" 
"  I  Avas  there  last  -week,"  I  answered. 
*'  Isn't  it  the  most  beautiful  county  you  ever  saw?" 
I  replied,  "  Nature  has  done  enough  to  make  it  so." 
"  It   Avas  a  grand    county  before   the  uar,"  she  said. 
"Every  body  thinks  it's  the  best  county  in  the  State  of 
irgnna. 
But  my  opinion  widely  diflered  from  hers.     It  seemed 
to  mo  one  of  the  darkest  and  most  God-forsaken  corners 
of  the  earth.     But  the  influence  of  slavery  had  its  delete- 
rious ('fleets  upon  whites  as  well  as  blacks. 

Laura  Hampton  knew  notliing  of  self-reliance.  All  sho 
ku'^w  was  to  bo  a  coiise(piential  young  lady  of  distinction, 
full  of  exalted  (pialifying  adj(M>tives  in  th(>  sui)erlative  <le.- 
gree.  But  sho  was  not  so  much  to  blame  as  her  parents 
for  her  simpering  and  tossing  the  head  with  overstocked 
aflectation.  She  was  to  be  i)itied  for  ln'r  unfortunate  sur- 
roundings. Her  "sitlendid  man,"  a  "beautiful  gcntli-- 
man,"  was  a  coarse,  burly  headi'd  "  Eegreo"  in  ai^pearance. 
I  arrived  at  Norfolk  at  four  o'clock  P.  ^I. ,  and  found 
a  ])leasant  home  at  the  Tyler  House.     lb-re  I  met  eighteea 


ml 


11 


1< 


<     ; 


ji 


»'  -  '". 


424 


A  woman's  mfk-work. 


touchers,  with  wliom  I  enjoyed  ji  refreshing  prayer-meeting, 
led  by  S.  J.  AVhiting,  a  missionary,  who  gave  au  interesting 
sketch  of  his  experience  in  the  Mendi  Mission  in  Africa. 
I  gave  an  account  of  the  work  acconiph.shed  through  the 
l)lossiug  of  God  in  the  Mississippi  Valley,  while  I  was  ac- 
companied hy  my  dear  sister  Backus,  and  spoke  of  trials 
I  had  recently  passed  through.  Here  were  kindred  spir- 
its, with  wh(mi  we  held  sweet  communion,  and  with  our 
Heavenly  Father,  who  is  ever  near  at  hand. 

While  in  this  part  of  the  State,  I  saw  a  white  woman 
who  had  been  cruelly  asiiulted  and  beaten  with  a  raw-hido 
hy  her  sister  and  niece  for  associating  with  the  teachers 
of  our  freodmcn's  schools.  They  thought  she  had  dis- 
graced the  family;  but  she  said  she  would  not  turn  away 
from  those  Christian  ladies,  however  her  own  kindred 
might  treat  lier.  O  the  wrongs  and  outrages  which  the 
spirit  of  slavery  inflicted  not  only  on  the  blacks,  but  also 
on  the  white  people  of  the  South  I 


J  ' 

'A 


p.- 


i;'i 


M 


V-' 


FRKKPM EN  S    SCIH X )!>?. 


42.' 


Chapter  XV. 


EXrERTKXCES  AMON(;  FREEDMEV. 

I  WAS  told  l)y  Generiil  Armstrong,  comniandor  of  the 
post  in  Elizjibeth  City,  tliiit  twenty-five  thous^iind  inluih- 
itiints  lijid  been  snpplied  ^^itl^  food,  and  that  more  whites 
than  Maeks  had  called  for  rations.  Then;  were  six  thon- 
sand  frcednien  in  this  district.  Twentv-six  hundred  of 
their  children  were  in  schools;  and  thirteen  hundred  were 
half  or  entire  ()r})hans,  that  drew  rations.  They  had  had 
no  civil  court  here  since  March  2()th,  and  no  justice  was 
shown  to  frecdmen.  There  was  as  much  comi)laint  here 
as  elsewhere  about  their  unwillinji^ness  to  work;  but  the 
general  said  it  was  only  because  they  got  no  pay.  A  lew 
l)lantation.s  were  rented  here  by  Northerners;  but  they 
made  no  complaint  for  want  of  hands,  and  had  more  a[)- 
plications  for  work  than  they  could  furnish. 

General  Armstrong  secured  a  carriage,  ^^ay  18th,  to 
take  his  wife  and  myself  to  the  Downey  School,  a  few 
miles  distant,  to  see  what  a  noble  work  the  two  Stewart 
sisters  were  there  doing.  He  took  us  to  a  large  I'arm  of 
eight  hundred  and  six  acres,  rented  by  a  Xorthcrn  num 
by  the  name  of  Jackson,  who  sr.id  he  had  worked  it  three 
yeai-s,  and  had  taken  it  for  two  years  longer,  lie  had  no 
difliculty  in  keeping  good  help.  "All  these  jieople  want 
is  fair  nnd  kind  treatment"  he  said,  "  to  make  good  and 
faithful  hands  the  year  around.  I  can  not  employ  all  who 
come  for  work.  I  liaye  seen  them  leaye  weeping  oyer 
their  disa)>pointment." 

Near  this  i)lace  was  the  school  conducted  by  the  two 
sisters,  Endly  and  Jennie  Stewart,  of  S<»uth  Ilill,  Steubin 

ao 


ftl 

'h- 

f 

1. 

I: 


<^l 


(♦ 


••-a 


I. 


42G 


A    WOMAN  S    LIFK-WOUIv. 


:|. 


Comity,  New  York.  They  liiid  one  luiiidrod  and  ciglity- 
fivc  wholars,  and  wore  doing  a  grand  work  among  tl>o 
Avhite  jH'ople  in  that  eoninuniity.  Two  young  men*  were 
converted  tlirougli  their  int^trunicntahty,  and  were  exerting 
a  i)owerAd  influenec  over  the  white  i)eoi)le.  They  were 
attending  tlie  f?ehool,  to  which  a  nuruher  of  white  fatniUes 
sent  their  children.  It  widely  difler.s  from  all  others  I 
have  visited  in  the  South.  The.«e  earnest  Christian  girls 
were  enij)hatically  teacdiing  a  school  of  Christ  on  week-days 
as  well  as  on  the  Habbath.  The  two  voung  men  referred 
to  had  the  ministry  in  view,  and  were  very  earnest  in  their 
exhortations.  I  addressed  the  school,  and  conversed  with 
those  young  white  men,  who  seeni(>d  in  a  very  tender  frame 
of  mind.  These  dear  sisters  urged  me  to  spend  a  week 
with  them;  and  (Jeneral  Armstrong  kindly  offered  to  send 
his  conveyance  for  mc  at  the  close  of  tlie  week,  or  when- 
ever I  might  fix  the  time.  But  as  my  supplies  were  out, 
I  wished  to  hasten  back  to  "Wasliinglon. 

During  the  day's  ride  we  passed  the  place  of  a  largo 
Pabbath-school,  which  was  first  opened  by  a  soldier,  W. 
JJadger,  Jun.,  a  faithful  lab(n-er  in  this  work.  It  had 
flourished  ever  since. 

We  visited  a  number  of  jdantations  with  which  the 
general  was  unacquainted.  lie  hailed  a  passer-by  to  in- 
(piire  the  distance  to  the  Ohl  Brick  ('hurcli.  "O,  you're 
smash  up  to  it,"  he  said.  I  looked  up  to  sec  it,  when  he 
continued,  " 'T  ain't  but  two  miles  ahead."  The  general 
thought  it  was  three  miles,  at  least,  before  we  reached  the 
old  colonial  church,  built  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  years 
ago,  out  of  brick  brought  from  England. 

We  passed  through  a  forest  of  young  pines  that  had 
Iwen  rented  three  years  to  colored  jieople  in  five  and  ten 
acre  lots.  They  were  to  receive  one-fourth  of  all  they 
raised,  and  pay  the  remainder  as  rent.  Said  the  general, 
as  we  came  opposite  a  ten-acre  lot  where  a  man,  his  wife, 
and  dauirhter  were  all  hard  at  work  grubbing,  "That  man 


i  i 


pir  were 


SLAVE  MAUKKT   IN   A   (MirUClI. 


427 


Avill  lijinlly  get  a  incagor  sul>si.s(<Mi('o  IVuiii  onc-iourlli  of 
tliuL  land."  AikI  lie  iiKiiiind  of  tlio  man  it'  he  cxpeck'd 
to  get  lii.s  living  oil*  the  lonrth  of  tliat  lot. 


I 


reekon   .so,"  wa.s  tin;  an.swer 


t( 


Aft 


er  we  gi 


■t.s  t1 


10 


c 


roj)  in  niy  wife  ami  gal  ean  tend  it,  and  1  '11  get  work  by 
the  day  while  it.s  growin'." 

Sniiday,  May  20tli,  was  a  pleasant  Sahhalh.     I  attended 
a  lai'LTO  nieetiniTt  and  listenecl  lo  a  verv  intereslint;  <liseoiirso 


I 


'y 


freed 


man. 


At    the    close  he  earnesllv  e.xhorteil    1 


us 


licarers  to  jmrity  of  lifi;  in  their  new  freedom.  lie  wanted 
to  see.  all  filthy  hahil-s  left  heliind  with  hondage.  "  Do  not 
let  u.s  take  with  us,"  he  .said,  "any  habit  of  drinking — not 
even  u.sing  tobac'co.  Let  us  .seandi  ourselve.«,  and  .see  if 
we  are  worshiping  (*od  with  clean  hearts  ami  months." 

Opl)ortnnity  being  ofl'ered,  I  made  a  fi'W  remtirks  from 
II  Chronicles,  xv  :  12,  "And  they  enteri'd  into  covenant 
to  seek  the  Lord  God  of  their  fathers  with  all  their  heart 
and  with  all  their  .soul."  After  meeting,  minister  and  peo- 
ple  gath(>red   around   mc    to  ,shak(^  my  hands,   until    they 


were   lame  a   luimber  of  dav 


d 


one, 


Da's  took  do 


iridle  oil'  our 


heads. 


an 


let 


us  Joosc 


to  servo  (jlod."     Xear 


the  i)laee  was  the  Zion  Methodist  Church,  that  had  been 
used  occasionally  for  anrtinn  mlci  of  nlarr.-t.  Then^  were 
thirty  acres  here,  purchased  by  colored  people,  laid  out  in 
two-acre  lots.  Most  of  them  had  built  little  cabins,  but 
others  were  working  out  l)y  the  day  to  earn  ineans  to  pay 
for  their  lots  Ijcfore  they  built. 

In  the  evening  I  visited  a  school  of  twcnty-fivc  adults, 
who  could  not  attend  during  the  day.  A  number  of  them 
read  for  mc  very  intelligibly.  James  Wright  did  not  know 
his  lettor.s  at  Christmas,  but  could  now  read  fluently.  He 
was  sixty  yoars  of  age.  Robert  ]5ell,  aged  fifty,  who  di<l 
not  know  his  lettor.s  in  March,  could  now  read  in  the  .sec- 
ond reader. 

Caj)tain  FlagLj  and  wife  invited  me  to  take  another  ride 
out  in   the  country  wlu'ri*  colored   penple  had   nnlrd  land. 


HI  :  1] 

V 

'•I 


i'    ^1 


f  k 


Pl^ 


428 


A    WOMAN  S    I.IFK-WOUK. 


i'^^l 

Kill 

f'.  m 

1 '  '■ 

III 

t    t 


I  :»i 


I 


..(  i 


I  ■ 

i; 

;:■.  1  -^  ; 

*              ^ 

' '  If 

'kM 

libkll «. 

t 


On  our  wny  wc  mot  five  cartH  liidoii  witli  V.  F.  V.'s.  The 
captain  iiKjuiicd  of  one  man  how  far  it  Avas  tn  IVoviihMuu! 
Church.  "Sir,"  ho  answered,  "you  arc  ship-jani  (in  to  it; 
only  a  niilo  and  a  half,  sure."  As  usual  wo  went  twice  the 
distauco ;  the  captain  said  lie  always  calculate<l  a  VirLdnia 
mile  to  1)0  double  the  h-ngtli  of  ours.  This  church  had  boon 
])uilt  one  hundred  years  before  with  brick  brou<fht  from 
FiUgland.  We  called  on  six  families.  Said  one  woman, 
"I  tried  hard  to  serve  God  forty  years  a^^o,  but  mi^^hly 
idle;  jNIassa's  lash  so  sharp,  '})earod  like  we  jxior  croturs 
never  rest  till  we  drop  in  our  graves." 

Wo  visited  Ex-^iovornor  lleuiT  A.  AVise's  plantation  of 
five  huudrcd  acres,  with  fifty  cabins  in  the  negro  (piarters. 
This  was  confisciited.  There  wore  many  of  his  former  slaves 
liero,  aged  and  helpless,  and  a  successful  school  was  taught 
in  his  dwelling-house.  Here  Avore  seventeen  schools  under 
the  charirc  of  the  American  !Missionarv  Association,  which 
^vere  taught  by  eleven  lady  teachers  and  six  gentlemen. 
II.  C.  Perry  was  the  superintendent  of  schools  in  Norfolk 
District. 

The  Taylor  plantation  was  the  next  which  wo  visited. 
It  contained  seventeen  thousand  acres,  seven  hundred  acres 
of  which  were  worked,  and  ready  for  renting  to  freedmcn. 
In  Captain  Flagg's  district  there  were  three  thousand  four 
hundred  and  eighty -six  freed  children  attending  day-school, 
and  five  hundred  and  one  scholars  in  the  night-schools. 
One  hundred  and  ninety-two  of  these  were  over  sixteen 
years  of  age.  The  above  included  seven  counties :  Nor- 
folk, Princess  Ann,  Nansomond,  Isle  of  Wight,  Southamp- 
ton, Accomack,  and  Northampton,  the  last  two  on  the  east- 
ern shore  of  Chesa])oako  Bay.  It  is  well  to  note  the  income 
of  these  confiscated  plantations,  that  had,  up  to  May  25, 
1^00,  boon  returned  to  original  owners.  There  had  boon 
])aid  over  by  Captain  Flagg  to  government  toward  li(pii- 
dating  the  war  debt,  thirteen  thousand  dollars.  All  of 
this  was  the  avails  of  negro  help  on  the  government  farms, 


Tlio 

1  to  it; 
ice  the 
iririiiia 
1(1  been 
it  iVoin 
woiiiiin, 
mij^lity 
creturs 

iition  (»{" 
|u:irtcrs. 
er  slaves 
IS  tau;^'lit 
)ls  utuli'i' 
,n,  Avl/u'li 
ntlemon. 
i  Korfulk 

e  visited, 
red  aeres 
'ivedincu. 
;and  four 
iiv-school, 
t-scliools. 
r  sixteen 
ios:  Kor- 
)uthamp- 
thc  east- 
he  hicome 
May  25, 
had  been 
ard  li<l»ii- 
All  of 
nt  farms, 


PRKPAUIXf;    TO  CO    HOMK. 


420 


except   tljo  Wise  and   Taylor  plantations,   that  were  still 
ocrMpied  for  the  benefit  of  tiie  aged,  sitk,  blind,  and  crip- 


Jed 


nun,  women,  and  orphans 


I  retnrnetl  to  Washington,  where  I  found  a  re<|nest 
that  I  should  take  iifteeu  colored  orphans  to  our  Home  in 
Mieiiiiran. 


Th 


t  h 


le  commissioners  having  charge  ol  money  sent  hero 
by  all  the  Free  States,  for  sanitary  i)urposcs,  proposed  to 
j)!ace  five  hundred  dollars  in  my  hands  for  the  two  or- 
l)han  asylums  in  Michigan,  out  of  the  nine  hundred  dol- 
lars that  came  from  our  State.  This  was  to  Iw  ecpially 
divided  between  Detroit  Ori)han  Asvlum  and  tl 


rj) 


he  one  in 


Kai^in  Institute,  known  at  that  time  as  Ilaviland  Home. 
A  majority  of  the  commissioners  objectetl  to  its  being 
j)laeed  in  the  hands  of  a  woman,  to  select  goods  to  be 
j)urchased  at  auction  rates.  Consecpiently,  a  young  man 
was  sent  with  me  to  see  that  wise  selections  were  mach;  for 
the  little  homeless  waifs  for  whom  the  relief  was  desi<Mied. 
Ijeing  somewhat  acfjuaintt'd  with  my  work,  he  said  he  was 


ashamed  of  the  vote  of  the  board,  in  distrustiuLT 


my 


abil- 


ity to  select  goods   for  the  little  children  of  the  asylum." 


dien  I  had  b 


at  thi 


rk  all 


When  I  had  Decn  at  this  work  all  mv  life,  and  (jonstantiv 
during  three  years  past.  But  I  told  him  I  was  thankful 
to  get  the  five  hundri'd  dollars,  and  could  waive  their  no- 
tions of  woman's  inability  very  comfortably.  He  assented 
to  all  the  selections  I  made,  and  I  arranged  to  return 
home  with  the  fifteen  orphans  and  forty  laborers,  who  wislu^l 
to  go  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  their  friends  had  gone  fur 
woi'k  and  reported  to  them  favorably. 

I  found  in  these  peoj)le  a  strong  attachment  to  their 
own  color;  hence  the  unwillingness  for  a  few  to  go  a  great 
distance  without  a  ])roppect  of  others  to  follow.  It  was  a 
heavy  pressure  of  persecution  that  could  drive  them  from 
their  old  Southern  homes  to  Washington  for  protection, 
and  the  heavy  pn^ssure  of  want  staring  tlnim  in  the  face 
that  could  induce   them   to  leave  for  Northern  States  to 


'  M 


m 


wrr^ 


AP>() 


A    WOMAN  H    IJFK-W()I£K. 


|i ' 


i'       ■                                   i 

t      '     1 

;■          1'' 

fiml  work.  Fiflooii  tliuiisand  wcro  then  huddled  in  and 
uboiit  Wiisliiiigtoii.  llinidred.s  could  not  get  work  at  ten 
centrf  a  day,  bcsitlcs  rations,  (n'ncral  O.  O.  Howard  pivo 
transportation  for  many  car-loada  to  go  to  tlu;  Stated  ol" 
Kcw  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  and  otlmr  l're(>  States,  lint 
the  freedincn  could  not  l)c  j)ersua(U'd  to  p>  into  (he  loriner 
^'lave  States,  after  having  lei't  them.  General  Howard  .siid 
Korthern  hnnianitariim.s  ought  to  have  a  .share  in  this 
Christian  enterprise  of  furnishing  work  for  the  ahle-lxxlied 
and  assisting  to  earo  for  these  indigent  children;  and  ho 
urged  me  to  bring  as  many  as  ])rai'tieal)lc. 

INIrs,  liieks  knew  of  fifteen  Avho  Avished  to  follow  their 
friends  that  had  gone  to  Ohio,  and  said  she  would  assist 
me  in  going  through  to  Adrian,  >vhero  Joseph  Mcdveii/ie 
liad  spoken  to  me  ibr  eight  or  ten  strong  men  for  his  briek- 
vard.  If  tlu'v  had  families  he  said  h(!  would  heli)  tliem  in 
buildini;  houses  on  his  own  land,  and  if  l)oth  were  suited 
lie  would  eventually  sell  lots  to  them. 

V/hile  caHiiig  on  F.  C.  Ijeaman,  nicmhor  of  Congress, 
and  wife,  I  was  urged  to  rest  three  or  four  (hiys,  at  least, 
hi  fore  leaving  for  home.  But  I  told  them  I  must  hasten 
home  to  rest.  Trans[)ortation  was  secured  f)r  fifty-live 
adults  :uid  til'teeii  orphans,  lieforc  we  reached  Altoona  1 
ioinid  rations  had  not  been  ])rovided  fir  adults,  and  that 
we  must  pun^hasc  at  least  seventy-five  loaves  of  bread  at 
that  town.  As  the  train  halted  a  few  minutes,  I  h'lt  for 
the  bakerVi  but  found  that  it  had  been  removed  a  block 
further.  We  wi^nt  on  a  run,  and  secured  the  bread;  and 
I  sent  the  men  running  with  it,  so  as  to  reach  the  cars 
hefore  they  should  start.  But  I  was  left  behind,  with 
three  young  men  who  refused  to  desert  me.  The  men 
with  the  bread  reached  the  cars  just  as  they  were  begin- 
ning to  move.  !Mrs.  Kicks  being  with  them,  I  was  easy  as 
to  their  condition.  I  found  I  had  bettor  keep  as  quiet  as 
possible,  as  I  was  threatened  with  an  attack  of  dysentery. 
But  trans])ortation,  with  my  oflicial  ])aj)ers,  had  all  gone 


PASSKS    SKCrUKl). 


131 


n  and 
at  U'li 
il  t!;avo 

^    But 

fornu'r 

ml  Slid 

in  t\iis 

<-l)()(lu'tl 

iiud  lie 

)\v  llulr 
Id  ussist 
tid\i'n7.'u! 
lis  l)rifk- 
)  thorn  in 
i-e  fiuitod 

Conjiress, 
lit  U'lXrtt, 
t  hasten 
lii'ly-hvo 
Uloona  I 
ind   that 
broad  at 
I  h'ft  for 
1  a  hltH'k 
end;  and 
the  cars 
ind,  with 
The  men 
crc  hogin- 
as  easy  as 
qnict  as 
Llysentory. 
Il  all  gone 


on,  and  tlioro  was  not  a  soul  in  Altnona  that  T  over  knew. 
Yet  I  was  not  disc»;urn;^f(tl,  hut  took  tlio  throe  young  nun 
with  nie  to  tlio  raih'oiid  su|H'riutondont\s  oliioo,  and  told 
tlio  su|)orintondont  1  li;id  oonio  on  a  (juocr  i'rrand,  and  told 
my  short  story.  "And  now  I  solicit  the  favor  of  a  j)ass 
for  niysolf  and  thoso  thri'O  young  men.  Ihit  you  do  not 
know  whothor  I  liavo  givon  you  a  truthful  ropri-si-ntation, 
for  I  have  not  so  much  as  a  scratch  of  a  })on  with  mo 
to  J  trove  it." 

Said  he:  "You  gay  your  namo  is  T/iura  S.  Tlaviland. 
Did  you  not  secure  a  pass  to  Ciiicago  and  ri'turn,  throo 
years  ago,  of  Mr.  Camphell,  at  Adrian?" 

"I  ilid,"  was  my  reply,  "as  I  was  going  South  with 
sanitary  supi)lies." 

"  I  thought  I  had  .^een  you  hoforo,"  he  said.  "  I  was 
liis  chief  clerk,  and  made  out  those,  jiassi-s  for  you  ;  and  I 
will  give  you  a  ])ass,  as  you  re<juest.  Would  you  liki;  to 
telegraph  to  the  lady  assistant?" 

"I  suppose,"  I  said,  "she  will  stop  over  at  Pittshurg 
until  I  overt;d<e  them;  hut  it  would  Ix^  a  iiivor  if  their 
haggage  could  he  properly  ri'chocked  at  IMttshurg  to  stop 
over  one  train  at  Cleveland,  as  a  portion  of  the  adults  are 
to  >lop  there." 

"  I  will  telegra])!i  the  freiglit  agent  to  take  special  care 
in  recheeking  their  haggage,  and  recpiost  tla;  operators  to 
teleLM'aph  to  railroad  authorities  at  ("ievt'land  that  this  ear- 
load  of  hlacks  in  charge  of  ^Frs.  iJicks  are  to  wait  over 
oiu!  train   for  you." 

^  told  him  if  that  could  he  done  without  fail  it  would 

*      .1  great  favor,  as   I   was  sick,  and    Mrs.   Kicks  wonld 

.^  time  to  send  these  colored   i»oopl(!   up   town  to  their 

1      nds.     He  telegraj)hed  all  these  directions,  and  also  re- 

<pieste(l  the  ticket-agent  to  meet  me  with  the  passes. 

AVhile  waiting  for  the  train  I  wms  furnished  with  a  sofa 
hv  the  kini  mitron  who  ke|)t  the  hulies'  waiting-room.  I 
was  met  at       >•  Pittshurg  depot  with  passes,  and  ccjuducted 


\t\ 


i\ 


t"  t 

'.i 

,.  i 

V 

w 


4.32 


A    WOMAN  S    LIFE-WORK. 


ti- 


ll.' 


V 


'v^'  I  II 


in  ^    "     ^- ''  f 


l^f 


■U' 


I     '   "ft 


to  tho  wuitiug-room  for  a  few  moments,  when  the  young 
mau  cuniG  to  assist  me  on  the  right  car.  By  this  time  my 
fever  ran  higii,  but  higher  still  on  rcaoliing  Clevehmd,  and 
finding  that  all  had  gone  on  to  Adrian.  Here  tickets  to 
Adrian  were  waiting  for  me. 

I  met  brother  J.  Berry  at  Adrian  depot,  who  informed 
me  that  all  were  cared  for.  I  left  all  with  the  Lord  and 
the  good  people  of  Adrian,  who  knew  nothing  of  my  try- 
ing experiences. 

My  jhildren  were  urgent  to  send  for  the  doctor  at  once. 
I  insisted  on  my  water  treatment,  but  promised  to  comply 
Avith  their  request  if  not  materially  better  in  twelve  hours. 
A  few  days  of  rest  and  (juiet  restored  my  1  oalth. 

Although  Adrian  was  a  little  alarmed  at  this  new  ex- 
j)eriencc  of  army  stamj)edes,  yet  in  due  time  j)laces  were 
found  for  all  to  work,  and  eventually  many  of  them  be- 
came owners  of  their  own  homos. 

The  children  of  soldiers  and  other  homeless  waifs, 
needed  attention,  and  I  found  more  than  a  dozen  in  our 
Or|)hans'  Home  without  a  shirt  for  a  change.  But  sister 
Annie  Berry  donated  forty  yards  of  heavy  sheeting,  and 
Avithin  two  weeks  we  i\ad  a  hundred  yards  made  up  into 
substantial  garments  for  n»esc  little  homeless  ones.  My 
health  being  still  too  poor  for  hard  work,  I  spent  a  few 
weeks  with  my  son,  Joseph  B.  Ilaviland,  at  Acme,  Grand 
Traverse  County. 

On  my  return  home,  I  found  our  commission  had  con- 
cluded to  close  the  asylum  work,  and  expend  its  means  in 
supporting  schools  in  the  South.  They  had  sold  the  West 
Hall,  and  it  had  been  removed  to  Tecumseh,  and  they 
were  about  to  sell  the  team  and  other  property.  I  now 
stated  the  motive  1  had  when  gave  the  deed  with  a  pro- 
viso, and  said  that  removing  the  building  was  a  wrong 
step  for  our  commission  to  take,  in  view  of  the  proviso.  I 
met  the  commissinn  in  Detroit,  and  laid  before  them  my 
object,  and  my  desire  to  m  tke  it  a  State  asylum,  for  the 


e  young 
time  my 
uul,  and 
ickcts  to 

informed 
^ord  and 
'  my  try- 

:  at  once, 
o  comply 
ve  hours. 

i  new  ex- 

ticcs  were 

them  be- 

C!5S  waifs, 
on  in  our 
But  sister 
tinii,  and 
c  up  into 
|)ncs.  My 
ent  a  few 
lie,  Grand 

had  con- 
means  in 
the  West 
and  they 
I  now 
|ith  a  pro- 
a  wrong 
hoviso,  I 
theni  my 
|in,  for  the 


TRANSFER   OF   ASYIXM. 


433 


children  of  soldiers  and  '^.ll  others  who  woro  in  oiu"  county 
poor-houses,  that  wore  mere  nurseries  for  tlie  prison.  1  hud 
inquired  of  superiuloudeuts  of  penitentiaries,  iiow  many 
of  the  convicts  had  been  left  or|jluuis  in  childht)od;  and 
the  average  in  Virginia,  Mar^Umd,  IVnnsylvaiiia,  and 
our  ^Michigan  State  Prison  was  more  than  tlireo-fourths. 
Emma  A.  Hall,  matron  of  the  female  prisoners  in  the 
Detroit  house  of  correction,  informed  me  that  every  girl 
and  woman  under  her  care  had  been  left  an  orphan  in 
childhood.  In  view  of  this  record,  and  of  there  being  a 
greater  nund)er  of  that  class  since  the  v/ar  than  ever  be- 
fore, I  had  felt  the  necessity  for  this  asylum. 

George  Dufheld,  D.  D,,  the  president  of  our  commis- 
sion, replied:  "We  know  not  init  this  'heck  is  of  the 
Lord,  for  we  are  finding  it  hard  work  to  secure  homes  for 
the  forty  children  now  in  the  Home  who  arc  under  ten 
years  of  age."  And  he  moved  that  a  month  l)c  allowed 
nie  to  make  satisfactory  arrangements  according  to  my  de- 
sign. While  I  was  endeavoring  to  secure  ten-dnlhir  sub- 
scriptions to  eliect  tins  result,  J.  R.  Shipherd,  secretary^ 
of  the  Western  Division  American  Missionarv  Association, 
sent  an  agent  to  })urchasc  tiie  asylum  and  continue  it  in  its 
present  form.  lie  stated  the  American  Missionary  Associa- 
tion could  not  take  it  with  the  proviso,  but  would  pay  mo 
two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  of  the  five  hundn^l  dollars  I 
had  agreed  to  <ledui't  out  of  the  two  thousand  dollars  pur- 
cha.se  money,  if  I  should  relincpiish  the  proviso.  I  fiarcd 
the  result,  thinking  tli(>  ent(  i[)rise  might  be  oidy  an  experi- 
ment, and  might  close  at  some  future  ju'riod,  leaving  the.«o 
cliildren  a  pid)lii3  burden.  Ihit  J.  R.  Slii|ili(  rd  jtledged 
his  word  that  no  .ihild  of  whom  the  American  Missionary 
As.sociation  should  take  contr<»l  shoidd  bc('ome  a  pid)lic 
burden,  and  would  further  agree  to  expend  on  (he  huild- 
iu"-  and  {jrounds,  at  least  from  three  thousand  to  five  thou- 
sand  dollars  within  a  year  and  a  half  or  two  years  at  longest. 

From  the  confidence  1  had  in  the  a.ssoeiation  I  yielded, 

:i7 


h  I- 


r^^o 


if  i- 
- 1* 


I 


I'H^ 


i ,  I 


434 


A    WOMAN  S    I.IFK-WORK. 


if 


though  rchictantly.  The  agent  (U'slrod  inc  to  take  cliarge 
of  the  a.syhmi  as  matron,  ten  (hiys  or  two  weeks,  as  Mr. 
Shiphcrd  eoukl  sceure  a  matron  from  Vicksburg,  ^lissis- 
sip})!,  in  tluit  time.  I  agreed  to  do  this  free  of  eharge. 
^Ii's.  ICdgL-rtDn,  ^vh')m  he  engaged  as  matron,  arrived  ia 
four  weeks. 

It  was  now  kite  in  October,  and  my  "Winter  cough  began 
to  trouble  me.  This  tlie  ISuuliiern  Winters  had  melted 
away  during  three  Winters  jiast,  and  I  concluded  tt)  resign 
my  agency  in  our  State  Freedmens  Aid  Commission  and 
work  under  the  auspices  of  American  Missionary  Associa- 
tion of  the  middle  division.  I  secured  transportation  from 
Cicneral  ().  O.  Howard  to  Atlanta,  CJeorgia,  and  again  left 
my  dear  ones  at  homi;  for  that  held.  I  spent  a  few  days 
^vith  my  dear  friends,  Levi  and  Catharine  Coflin,  at  Cin- 
cinnati. As  the  .^t'cri'tary,  brother  Cravath,  was  on  an 
investigating  tour  in  the  South,  Levi  CofHn  proposed  that  I 
shoidd  go  to  work  over  the  river,  in  Covington  and  Newport, 
Kentucky,  as  there  were  a  few  thousand  frcedmen  congre- 
gated in  those  towns,  lie  introduced  mc  to  a  lieutenant, 
in  whose  charge  the  freedmen's  de[)artment  was  left,  who 
took  n)v  to  a  nund)er  of  barracks,  where  the  sick  and  suf- 
fering were  occupying  bunks  with  a  bed  sack  that  had, 
when  possible,  been  filled  with  hay,  leaves,  or  husks. 

One  poor  woman  had  nothing  in  her  sack,  and  that 
Avas  all  she  had  for  her  bed,  aside  from  an  old  condemned 
blanket.  She  was  sutfcring  intensely  with  rheumatism. 
Her  limbs  and  hands  wore  all  drawn  out  of  shape,  thus 
disabling  her  from  dicssing  herself  1  pundiascd  some  hay 
immediately  and  had  her  moved  so  as  to  have  her  bed-sack 
filled,  and  then  furnished  her  witii  a  warm  (piilt.  I  procured 
<piantity  of  thii  k  red  flannel  and  madi'  her  a  long-sleeved 
garment  to  reach  over  her  feet,  and  made  it  before  I  slept. 
The  next  morning  I  took  it  to  her  an<l  saw  it  on  her.  The 
poor  woman  couM  say  nothing  fur  weejiing,  but  after  com- 
mandiog  her  feelings,  she  .slid,  "This  is  more  than  I  de 


iU 


;,,  us  :Nlr- 

^"f  churgc. 
tvrrived  iu 

Ac.l  to  rosig^^ 
niui^^^i*'!^  anil 
ntivv  As-^ocia- 
.ovtutiou  iV«>ni 
a,u\  tv-iiin  U'tt 

CutUn,  tit  Cin- 
a,,  ^vus  on  uu 
pv()i>n?^H\  t\uvt  I 

c.ea.uen  oonp'O- 
to  II  WouU'iraut, 
a  Nvus  loft,  Nvbo 
lu-  su-k  tuu\  ^^if- 

s,u-k  t\r.it  kvul, 
;   or  kvisk>. 
'  .ack,  un.l   tlr.xt 
,^  ,,ia  oon.VMuncnl 

•,t\v   vhc'unuitism. 

milt.     I  vvocuvea 
i;^.,  .X  lnnir>l'-^'^-^^^^ 

I  it  iK'inr.  I  ^^;;!;^- 

.uitonlu'V.     n.o 
,,.r,  l>ut  after  cnm- 

s'^morc  tluiu  I  ^e- 


iH' 


V*W  '■■  ^'  .ilis™i.  iiii:'''i;.i'T/''''!'  iiihiifeiBiiiiiiiiiiiiiitftiiiiiiiHiii. 


V,                 1 

•», 

■      i       * 

«r' 

i       t 

'  1. 

) 

i 

'1  \k. 

1    ,,' 

i. 

1*  ' 

rl- 

i  ■ 

'H    4 


■I? 


MTwsrov  'wonic. 


435 


serve.  All  llio  sufTerlii'  I's  hud  all  tlio  year  i.s  iiotliin' 
compared  to  the  siiinrin'  of  )ii\'  Jotius  for  poor  inc."  The 
colored  woman  who  ha<l  the  care  of  her  said  she  never  had 
seen  such  jjatience  in  all  her  life.  The  next  day  I  took 
her  another  flannel  jrarment,  and  relieved  many  others 
during  the  mouth  I  spent  in  this  field. 

Our  lieutenant  Avas  an  excellent  man.  One  day  ho 
"wished  me  to  go  with  him  to  s(>c  his  old  huilding  tliat  ho 
had  ordered  fitted  nj)  f  »r  a  school  for  three  hundred  freed 
children  in  that  ])art  of  his  district.  ]>iit  he  foinid  that 
nothing  hatl  been  done.  "Upon  my  word,"  he  exclaimed, 
"  not  a  stroke,  not  a  stone,  not  a  window.  O,  F  can  't  stand 
this  red  tajjc;  I  just  want  to  leave  every  other  duty  and 
j)itch  into  this  house.  I  know  I  am  too  impulsivi>,  hut 
that  is  the  way  of  an  Irishman.  I  have  often  thought 
Peter  was  an  Irishman,  he  was  so  impulsive." 

I  spent  the  greater  portion  of  Xew-year's  day,  ISH?, 
in  calling  upon  twelve  families  and  taking  to  the  sick  and 
aged  ones,  blankets  and  clothing.  I  walked  nearly  a  milo 
to  the  ferry,  and  called  at  the  mission-rooms,  where  I  found 
the  s(>cretary,  Vj.  M.  Cravath,  just  returned  trom  his  South- 
ern tour,  lie  thought  my  work  was  most  necdeij  in  Mem- 
phis, Tennessee.  I  received  from  him  my  commission  for 
that  field.  I  met  in  his  odice  licv.  A.  Scofiehl  and  daugh- 
ter, just  driven  from  Camp  Nelson,  by  returiu d  secession- 
ists. After  a  verv  busv  Xew-vear's  dav,  I  n^turned  to  Levi 
Ciillin's  for  th<»  night,  and  the  next  day  left  for  Memphis, 
whiih  I  reached  on  (he  r)th,  spending  two  days  in  (  airo. 

In  the  eveniir^  I  attended  a  large  colorecl  church,  and 
at  the  close  of  the  servic(>  iutnxluced  my  work.  The  meet- 
ing, as  usual,  was  very  demonstrative.  The  home  assigmnl 
1110  Avas  a  Mission  Home,  with  thirteen  teachers,  Joseph 
Barnum,  formerly  of  Obtrlin,  Ohio,  b(Mng  superintendent. 
It  w;is  a  rich  treat  to  meet  several  who  had  been  C(»-workers 
in  the  field  of  clashing  arms  and  roar  of  cannonading.  Ibit 
few  can  realize  the  strength  of  the  tie  that  binds  those  who 


Hi 

I'  ft  - 


H't 


I!      ' 


*,: 


m'  . 


ai 


^'^^';|i|H 


4^0 


A    "WOMAN'S    LIFF.-WOr.K. 


litivo  liibonMl  togctbor  in  tlie  llou's  den.  One  of  the  teach- 
ers l)cing  sick,  at  the  rcqiie'st  of  the  .supcrniteudeut  I  tcni- 
jjorarily  took  her  pkice. 

On  luy  Avay  to  school,  one  morning,  I  was  condnctcd  to 
the  place  Avhcre  lay  twelve  dead  bodies  till  the  third  day 
after  the  terrible  riot  which  occurred  a  fi'W  months  jirevi- 
ously.  One  of  the  bodies  was  ludf  burned.  I  was  shown 
another  corner  of  the  streets  where  lay  six  bodies  more  at 
the  same  time.  O  what  horrible,  scenes  were  enacted  then. 
I^Fy  conductor  pointed  to  a  charred  spot  of  earth  where 
had  stood  a  cabin  in  which  lay  a  very  sick  woman,  whose 
daughter  of  sixteen  years  stood  in  the  door  })leading  with 
the  infuriated  mob  not  to  burn  their  house  for  her  mother 
\sis  near  dying,  and  it  was  impossible  for  her  to  carry  her 
out.  One  fiend  caught  her  up  on  his  bayonet  and  tossed 
her  into  the  midst  of  the  fltimes  of  an  adjoining  cabin.  In 
a  moment  her  screams  of  aironv  were  hushed  1)V  the  crack- 
ling  flames.  Fire  was  th(>n  thrown  into  the  dying  woman's 
cabin,  and  both  mother  and  daughter  perished.  Their 
charred  bodies  were  taken  out  by  their  fricMids  and  buried 
with  others  slaughtered  in  the  riot  of  May,  1f^C>C).  In  that 
riot  there  were  forty-six  negroes  killed,  seventy-five  wounded, 
five  rapes  were  committed,  ten  persons  maltreated,  and  one 
hundred  robbed,  and  ninety-one  houses  and  cabins  burned, 
])esides  four  churches  and  twelve  school-houses  reduced  to 
ashes.  These  facts  were  given  me  by  white  witnesses  as  well 
as  colored,  and  they  j>robabIy  may  be  found  on  Cfcneral 
Kiddoo's  military  record,  as  he  was  one  of  the  officers  with 
armed  soldiers  who  quelled  the  terrible  riot.  I  was  soon 
relieved  of  school  duty,  and  as  I  received  a  few  boxes  of 
goods,  a  portion  of  which  were  from  England,  I  found 
constant  cmj)loyment  in  the  over-varying  mission  work. 

The  grandmother  of  a  little  girl  who  had  died  a  few 
days  before  was  very  sick  and  in  great  distress  of  nund 
when  I  entered  her  cabin,  she  said  imploi-ingly,  "O,  missus, 
do  pray  for  poor  me.    Cau  God  forgive  sicb  uu  ole  sinner  as 


FKAU   OF    UIOT. 


4.37 


tcach- 
[  tcm- 

tod  to 

•d  duy 
jircvi- 

shown 

lore  lit 

1  then. 
Avhcrc 
whose 

ig  with 

mother 

rry  her 

I  tossed 

)hi.    In 

i  cruek- 

vonum's 

Their 

buried 

In  that 

)iinded, 

and  one 
mrned, 
need  to 
^  as  well 
Cleneral 
ers  >Yitlx 
vas  soon 
)oxes  of 
I  found 
kvork. 
■d  a  f<'w 
of  mind 
,  missus, 
sinner  as 


me?  Can  I  fni'  Jesus  so  qulek  as  i)oor  Mary  Jane  did  afore 
she  <lied?  I  knows  she  went  so  happy;  I  jjrayi'd  all  ni;::ht, 
hut  'i)ears  like  so  dark;  don't  see  de  plaee  o'  dc  eandlc"  I 
read  to  her  of  the  readiness  of  Jesus  to  forgive,  and  how 
he  forgave  the  thief  on  the  cross,  heeausc  he  r(>p(Mit('(l  and 
looked  to  Jesus  in  faith  even  in  his  last  moments.  As  I 
knelt  hy  her  eot  I  im})loreil  unl)oiiiid(^d  mi>rey  in  i\n' 
S[)irit's  teaching  this  precious  soul  the  way  to  enter  in 
through  the  door.  I  left  her  more  calm.  She  lingereil  :i 
few  days,  hut  her  mind  heeame  clear  from  the  shadow  of 
a  cloud.  She  died  in  the  triumphs  of  (iiilh,  leaving,  slio 
said,  her  little  lamhs  with  the  dear  Shepherd,  "Dat  hunted 
de  lost  sheep  an'  foun'  her  'mid  de  wolves,  dat  scratch  her 
mightily."     The  (children  were  takcm  to  the  orphanage. 

AVhile  pursuing  this  work  our  lives  wen;  dally  threat- 
ened, and  some  had  fears  of  anotluT  riot.  One  I'nion 
woman  on  our  Mock  told  me  that  she  had  often  spent 
sleepless  nights  on  our  account.  Siie  had  heard  such  fre- 
quent threats  that  "Xigger  teachers  should  he  cleare<l  out, 
as  well  as  free  niggers,"  that  she  expected  every  day  would 
])e  our  last,  and  every  pistol  shot  she  heard  in  the  night, 
or  the  alarm  of  fire,  she  listened  and  looked  in  the  direc- 
tion of  our  ^lission  House.  But  I  told  her  I  did  not 
believe  we  should  have  another  riot;  I  believed  tiu;  (lod 
of  Daniel  was  able  and  willing  to  protect  us,  and  that  in 
liiin  was  my  confidence. 

"But  you  don't  know  these  peoj)l(!  as  I  do,"  she  said, 
"for  I  have  always  lived  here.  I  have  sometimes  thought 
I  would  not  tell  you.  And  then  I  made  up  my  mind  that 
I  would,  so  you  could  be  mor(^  on  your  guard  ;  becauso 
they  threatened,  just  as  they  do  now,  before  that  awful  riot 
u  few  months  ago." 

The  teachers  who  were  my  room-mates  said  th(\v  had 
li(»ard  of  the  same  threats,  but  there  were  soldiers  near  at 
hand  now,  and  when  the  riot  brokt;  out  there  were  so  few 
here  they  had  to  be  called  from  other  i)oint3  to  quell  it. 


i' 


h 


;)    . 


I'i 


ll ' ' 


■1.  ) 


' 

■I' 

( 
1 

1  , 

t     - 

;■ 

;     ;. 

ll 

■      ft 
.  A- 

1 

4;i8 


A    WOMAN  S    MFFi-W.»IUC. 


Oil  April  13th  I  visitocl  the  sick  and  roliovod  oi^ht 
families.  Then  I  wont  over  old  I'^nrt  rickcriiij^f  and  thronirh 
the  frecdnu'ii's  hospital,  containini!'  one  hiindivd  and  oij^dity- 
eight  iuniatos,  four  of  thoni  <Tip])k's,  and  Hf'locn  very  old. 
01  One  1  iiKpiired  how  old  i^Ua  was: 

"I's  ^'oin' on  two  hundred,"  she  answered.  "Massa's 
book  say  I's  one  hundred  and  ei;,dit,  an'  dat  is  eight  years 
for  another  hundred,  ain't  it?  Dey  name  nie  Esther  Jane. 
I  was  sole  at  sheriff's  sale  for  debt  to  ^[assa  Sparks.  In 
de  ole  war  ^Nlassa  George  Washington  was  a  mighty  kind 
man.  He  Ixtarded  wid  Massa  Sparks  four  or  five  weeks. 
lie  wore  short  breeehes  an'  knee-buekles  an'  a  cocked  hut. 
I  kej)'  his  room  clar'd  up." 

She  was  not  as  blind  as  a  nund)er  who  were  much 
younger.  But  her  skin  was  full  of  fine  as  well  as  deep 
wrinkles,  and  of  an  ashen  hue.  I  gave  a  litte  sugar  antl 
some  crackers  to  nuiiiy  of  them. 

I  returned  to  find  a  coloretl  man  who  had  been  directed 
to  me.  He  had  made  his  escape  the  night  before  from  his 
old  master,  who  seemed  to  have  no  more  idea  of  his  leav- 
ing him  than  if  there  had  been  no  proclamation  of  free- 
dom. His  wife  had  been  sick  a  long  time,  and  lu'  stayed  to 
take  care  of  her  till  she  died,  then  he  watched  an  oppor- 
tunity to  bring  his  two  little  children  with  him.  But  his 
master  he  supposed  was  also  watching,  for  he  soon  over- 
took him  with  help  and  took  his  children  away  from  him, 
and  his  bundle  of  clothes  that  he  was  going  to  put  on 
when  he  got  far  enough  from  the  house  to  feel  safe  with 
liis  children.  He  said  it  was  his  best  suit.  The  shirt  and 
drawers  he  had  on  were  good,  and  they  constituted  his 
entire  wardrobe.  I  laid  out  a  nundter  of  garments,  and 
told  him  to  go  into  the  store-room  and  seleet  r  whole  suit 
that  would  best  fit  him.  The  next  thing  to  h  done  was 
to  accompany  him  to  Colonel  Palmer's  office,  where  he  told 
his  own  pitiful  story,  and  the  coh»nel  asked  him  if  ho 
could  take  care  of  his  children  if  he  got  them. 


UNCLi:   I'll  I  LI  1\ 


4;]y 


0(1  oiprlit 
.  thn)n<:h 
(I  eighty- 
very  (tl<l. 

"Mussa's 
rrht  yoiirs 
licr  J:\no. 
iuks.  Ill 
rhty  kind 
vc  weeks, 
(cked  hat. 

ore  much 
1  as  deei) 
sugar  and 

'11  directed 
Ironi  his 
his  leav- 
ot'  I'ree- 
stayed  to 
an  oppor- 
But  his 
ioon  over- 
Voin  him, 
1)    put  oil 
safe  with 
shirt  aud 
ituted   his 
louts,  and 
whole  suit 
done  Wiis 
'le  he  told 


lum 


if  ho 


"If  you'll  he  so  good  as  to  help  mo  got  them,  these 
liands,"  (holding  them  out  toward  the  coloni-l)  "shall  lake 
as  good  care  of  them  as  thcv  do  (»{  me,"  and  his  vyv:^  filled 
with  tears.  1  left  him  with  the  i-olonel,  who  told  him  ho 
Would  si'ud  with  him  an  escort  of  sohTu'rs  the  next  morn- 
ing, "an<l  the  master  will  not  dare  refuse  to  give  nj)  the 
children  on  reading  the  note  I  shall  send  him." 

A  little  excitem(Mit  existed  over  the  murdiT  oi'  Mr. 
Errieksnii,  a  Union  man,  who  fled  U)  Memjihis  with  his 
familv  i'or  safety  cluring  the  war.  A  few  weeks  heforo 
the  i»resent  time,  ho  returned  to  his  liomo  in  Sumnierville. 
Ill'  had  heen  home  i)Ut  a  tew  days  h.-fdro  ho  was  shot  dead 
in  front  of  a  store.  His  poor  wife  and  two  daughters  were 
almost  insiine  oviT  his  untimely  death.  He  thought  the 
country  was  heeoming  more  (piiet,  and  ho  could  riik  going 
<{uietly  to  their  lionie.  There  was  a  very  smart  colored 
woman  in  town  who  witnessed  his  iiun-der.  8hc  was  at 
^Memphis  ostensihiy  to  do  a  little  trading;  hut  her  errand 
was  to  ini[uiro  of  the  real  friends  ol'  the  colored  [R'oplo 
which  man  they  had  Ijeiter  vote  for— Parson  Bi'ownlow  or 
the  c<Misorvative  candidate — for  governor.  The  men  did 
not  dare  to  come,  for  fear  they  would  ho  mistrusted;  and 
she  came  to  learn  from  Union  men  their  choice  for  gov- 
ernor, to  take  haek  word,  and  rejxirt  at  Summerville. 

I  was  one  day  passing  th(>  old  harracks  of  soldiers, 
then  oeeuj)ied  hy  freednien.  I  heard  ilistressing  groans, 
and  calle<l  to  see  whence  tlu^y  came.  I  found  an  old  man 
of  ninety -seven  years,  called  "  rncle  Philip,"  in  great 
hodily  distress.  "How  lt;ng  have  you  bceii  sulleriug  like 
this?"  I  inquired. 

"  Oidy  two  years,"  he  said. 

"Two  years  must  seem  a  great  while." 

"O  no,  it 's  only  a  little  minute,  compared  with  eter- 
nity of  rest  in  glorious  mansions  Jesus  went  to  j)repare  for 


i    I 


,'i 

f 


h 


me;  lor  I  knows  Is  got  a  home  thar',  missus, 
'case  I 's  seen  it,  an'  I  feels  it." 


I 


LUOWS   it. 


410 


A    woman's    I,IFF:-\\()Uk'. 


V   ■ 


"  How  IniifT  Iiavc  you  felt  this  cvidoncd?" 
"I  s(>(Mi  it  criir  as  sunsliino  wlicii  I  was  ten  year  olc. 
I\ry  nia.«sa  was  a  luiirlity  wicked,  swcariii',  cruel  man.  An' 
liis  overseer  was  a  niiglity  big  wicked  Mack  man;  his  name 
^vas  Mu  day.  An'  all  the  seventy-five  grown  han's  on  tiio 
|)l!intati(in  was  miuditv  wicked  too.  I  hear  so  much  swearin' 
J  had  a  had  ide'  of  (Jod  and  Je.<us;  I  reckon'd  thev's  some 
great  men,  tiiat  sent  people  to  a  miglity  hail  place.  One 
day  a  Methodis'  minister  stop  to  ^fassa  ]\Ialachi's  f<ir  din- 
ner. When  he  let"  massa  call  me  to  hriiig  his  hoss  to  'im. 
An'  de  j)rcacher  i>ut  his  iian'  on  my  head  an'  say,  'Philip 
is  a  smart  little  hov.  An'  if  you'll  ask  CJod  to  make  vou 
g'xid  he'll  do  it.  Then  when  you  die  you'll  go  to  that 
great,  heautil'ul  city  uj)  yo?ider,  where  it's  all  light  and 
heautifuL  Here  little  Phili])  has  to  go  'round  among  stuhs 
and  ttoncs,  harefoot ;  there  he'll  walk  the  golden  streets  in 
silver  slippers.  Here  he  wears  his  slip;  there  he'll  he 
dressed  in  a  heautii'id  white  robe.  Here  he  goes  hare- 
headed;  there  he'll  wear  a  hciuitiful  crown,  all  glittering 
■with  stars.  Would  n't  you  like  to  go  to  such  a  i»eau(ifid 
city  as  that  when  you  die?'  'Yes,  sir,'  I  s:iy,  'Well,  ask 
God  to  make  you  good,  and  that  will  he  your  home;  llir 
Jesus  lovt's  little  children.'  An'  he  jump'd  (»n  his  ho.-^s  and 
rode  away,  while  I  stood  thar,  wonderin'  what  sort  of  a  man 
that  could  he,  that  knew  so  juuch  'hout  God  and  heaven. 
Now  I  nnisf  fin'  God,  to  ask  'im  to  make  me  good;  an* 
f'om  this  man's  'scription,  he  must  he  .settin'  on  some 
cloud.  Day  and  niLdit  I  watch  i'or  'im;  an'  when  I  hxtked 
upon  the  stars  I  wondered  if  these  sparklin'  stars  was  what 
(lod  put  in  de  crowns  he  put  on  de  heads  of  all  good  peo- 
ple an'  good  chillen. 

"One  day  Aunt  Milla,  the  cook,  sent  me  to  j)ick  up 
an  armful  of  wood  for  her.  Wiiile  I  stood  lookin'  up  to 
de  clouds,  huntin'  for  (Jod,  1  hear  a  sweet  soft  voice  say, 
'Chill',  ])ray.'  I  look  all  'niong  de  tree-to])S,  to  see  who's 
thar',  au'  it  say,  'Chile,  pray,'  again.     An'  I  Avas  sure 


'  ,  "" 


rxcLr:  ririr,'s  stohv. 


\\\ 


year  olc. 
'un.    A>i' 
liis  imino 
('s  on  the. 
li  >;Nviivriu' 
ley's  gonio 
,icc.     One 
'^  for  <lin- 
loss  tn'ini. 

,y, '  rhnii> 

nuike  y»»ii 

(fo  to  lluvt 

1  H<rlit  iind 

m<»n;^'  stubs 

ni  streets  in 

ne  he'll  be 
goes  bare- 

U  nVitterini^ 
a  Iteautiiul 
'Well,iii^l<^ 
home;   lor 

Ihis  hot^s  iind 

,,rtof  a  man 

l;u\(l  lu'ivvcn. 

U  ^o()(\ ;   an 

ju'  (in   some 

hen  1  looked 

lurs  was  what 

uU  good  pco- 

L  to  \)iek  lip 
lluokin'  up  to 
lift  voiec  say, 
to  see  who's 
I'  I  ^Yas  sure 


pomebody  up  in  do  tree-tops,  an'  I  pot  searofl,  an'  drop  my 
urmi'ul  of  wood,  an'  run  to  Aunt  Milla,  all  out  <»'  bref. 
'What  ails  you,  IMiil?  What's  the  matter?'  she  said. 
'Somebody  's  i\\  do  tree -tops,  an'  say,  "Chile,  pray.'" 
'  Hush,  ehile,'  Aunt  Milla  said,  'dat's  (»od  talkin  to  you,' 
lei'u  hunt  in'  for  (tod  a  j,'ood  many  days, 


No  't 


am  t. 


I's  I 


an'  can't   fin'   im.*      'Honey,  yon   can't  see  (Jod   wid  dt^ 
eyes  you  sees  Aimt  Milla.     ( Jod  is  a  preat  fjfxxl  spirit  dat 


Iv 


»\vs  all  'bout  what  you  want,  an'  what  yo^i  're 


think 


in 


'bout.     1  wish  I  was  a  Christian,  but  I  ain't.     I  's  In  arn 
Christians   talk,   an'   I   knows   dat    (Jod 's   talkin'   to   voii, 


lO 


ney, 


N. 


ow, 


you  go  by  yoiu'se 


'f,  alone  like,  an'  ask  (iod 


to  miike  you  good,  as  you  say  you  want  to,  an'  he'll  do 


it, 


^ure 


"  Here  was  a  new  tlionght,  dat  I  could  fm'  God,  an' 
not  .'^ee  'im.  Jhit  I  did  as'Annt  Milla  tole  me.  It 'peared 
like  I  must  fin'  (iod.      ^^v  heart  ached  like,  all   thro'  me, 


I 


so  anxious. 


Onlv  a   few  dav.s   after   I   was  totin'  an 


armfid  o'  plates  to  the  dinin'-room  for  Ainit  Milla.  All  at 
onco  I  's  so  happy  I  did  n't  know  myse'f.  I  drop  my 
j)lates,  an'  broke  I  do  n't  know  how  many.  But  I  did  n't 
stop  for  plates;  I  shouted,  'Bless  Massa  Jesus!  (Jlory! 
(Jlory  hallelujah  to  (jod!  I  '.s  foun"im;  I  knows  it's  (Jod.* 
I  got  hold  of  my  papa  and  nuimma,  an'  tole  'em  to  ask 
(Jod  to  make  'em  j^ood,  an'  he'd  do  it;  an*  took  hold  of 
mv  little  mate  Julv,  'bout  my  a^e,  an'  tole  'im  he  nnis' 
I'd  pray  for  'im.     in  a  few  days  he  got  'ligion 


an 


too.     An'  two  young  while  ladii's,  Massa  Malaehi's  nieces, 
lived  thar',  an'  learned  us  to  sing  the  swei-t  hyuui : 

"'Mv  Savior,  mv  Ahnitrhfv  Friend, 


W 


len 


I  1. 


;iii  thy  praise 


Wliere  shall  tiie  ^Tuwinj;  numbers  end, 


111'  ntuiilxTs  <i 


if  tliv  u'la 


Cl' 


ui 


An'   I   tole  July  we'd    have    prayer-meetin's  In  our  cab 
of  nights,  un'  de  ole  folks  gathered  'round  us,  an'  our  eahiu 
was  full.     ^lassa  Mahichi   Murphy   was   angry   'bout    it ; 


HI 
Ml 


I 


$ 


I:    1 


I 
I 


1!!' 


II    y 


%' 


'  f  * 


it    ' 


;    I 


•i     ; 


( ;  ■ 


I.  fc 


i  i4i 

1^ 

'.  1 

I  ''i''  1 

;fc  i  1'  1 

L. 

'ii 

412 


A    WOMAN'S    IJFK-U'OUK. 


pomotimps  lie  M  scold,  sitmctiincs  make  fnn  o*  mc,  nu' 
cull  nu!  (It!  '  l)i;f  prrai-licr,  Mnwliii'  Phil.'  Hut  as  nil  dat 
(lid  ii't  put  iiic  diiw  II,  lie  call  iiic  Id  'iiii  an*  say,  '  Voii 
nliall  st(t|»  this  prayin'  an'  sinjiin'  in  your  cahin,  or  I  '11 
uliip  yuu  to  death,'  an'  he  swoiv  I  was  niinin'  his  planta- 
tion. My  jnipa  an'  niaiiinia  tried  to  ^'ct  inc  to  stop.  They 
said,  '  Von  know  Massa  Malachi  will  do  jus'  as  he  say.* 
'(J  no,  1  can't  stop  prayin'  to  Jcsiis,  he's  so  good  to  poor 
inc.  I  can  't  stop  prayin',  I  saitl.  But  \\\i  did  stop  our 
l)raycr-nicctin's  in  our  cahiii,  but  \vc  had  our  ni^dit  nicctin's 
in  a  deep  lavino  over  a  (piarter  of  a  mile  away.  I'orty  or 
iit'ty  of  our  fellow  slaves  would  meet  us  tliar  to  hear  us 
pray  an'  siiiL;.  At  las'  inassa  scl  dc  ovcr.H'cr,  Miiuday,  to 
watch  u>^,  an'  ho  I'ound  U:^  '.An.  Tic  ordereil  Muiiday  to 
l)rlng  July  an'  nic  to  'ini  uforo  sun  up.  When  wc  conic  in 
sight  of  dc  yard  wo  seen  two  ropes  han;;in'  to  a  l)i.^'  trco 
linil),  an'  1  stop  an'  look  to  July,  an'  to  d(!  woods,  wid  a 
lialf  a  niin'  to  run.  I>nt  July  says,  *  We  knows  wc  can  't 
f<toj)  prayin',  an'  wc  knows  what  we'll  take  jus'  as  well  lirs' 
as  las'.'  Tlien  I  was  'shamed  to  think  I  was  I'lrs'  in  do 
cause,  an'  July  stronger 'n  me.  An'  wc  went  tlirougli  do 
gate  an'  stood  afore  massa,  sottin'  in  do  l)ack  door  in  his 
night  shirt.  Tie  began  to  swear  we  was  ruinin'  his  whole 
plantation,  an'  now  he  was  goin'  to  have  us  whip])i'd  to 
death.  '  Now  you  see  you  've  got  to  die  or  stoj)  prayin'; 
will  you  stop  this  d — d  prayin'?'  'O  massa,  do  please  Kt 
me  pray  to  (lod,  do  please.'  '  Strip  off  your  slip,  tie  'im  up 
thar,  ^Tun,  an' give  'im  a  full  round.'  It  was  done  accordin' 
to  order;  twenty  lashes  with  the  bull  whip,  an'  twenty 
f^lrokes  with  the  j)addle.  Turning  to  July,  lie  said,  'Will 
you  stop  prayin'  or  die?'  'Massa,  do  plcas(!  let  mo  pray  to 
(ii'd,'  said  .fuly.  With  an  oath,  he  was  bidden  to  taki-  olf 
his  slip,  an'  tied  to  the  other  rope  with  a  rail  at  the  lower 
end,  nearly  touching  the  ground.  The  paddle  was  an  inch 
board  four  inches  wide,  three  or  four  feet  long,  whittled  at 
one  end  for  the  handle,  having  six  or  eight  inched  bored 


mo,  mi 
!  all  <lat 
,   'Voii 
I'll 
laiita- 


or 


i  V 


icv 


10  sav 


to  1 
itol 


)()()r 


)  (»iir 


itK't'tm  .-^ 


1m. n 
1 


V  or 


icar  VH 


to 


ndav 


UIK 


lav  I 


o 


C'OMH'   111 


1)1''    tl' 


t'C5 


WU 


\\c  can  t 


\\( 


11  1 


irs 


irs   111  (.10 


I'nW 


)!•  in  Ii'h 


us  WllOlli 


11)IH'( 


1 


1  t. 


traviii 


)lc'ase  let 

|io  'im  up 

iccordiii* 

twcntv 

.1,  'Will 


)rav  to 


ir 


taUo  o 


llic  lower 
an  inch 
littled  at 


■erf 


Lored 


INCI.r    I'll  1 1,  S    STOUY 


I  \:\ 


full  of  hdles,  cncli  liolo  drawing;  ii  Mister  nt  ovory  stroke. 
Tlio  full  round  was  ^iven  to  .July  us  ordered,  twenty  hisho.s 
willi  the  hull  wliip  and  twj'Uty  strokes  with  tlu'  paddlo. 
With  an  oaih  he  turned  a;j;aiii  to  nie,  '  Now,  have  you  ^ot 
cnoii;,di  to  stop  your  prayinj^  or  will  the  devil  die?'  '() 
inassa,  do  please  let  nie  [nay  to  (>od,  ho  is  so  fj^ood,'  I  aii- 
HWered.  '  Mun,  i^ivt;  'im  another  full  round,'  and  twenty 
la.shes  with  the  whip,  and  twenty  strokes  with  the  pad 
was  a 


(lie 


piin  fjiven.  A,i::iin  he  (pieried  July,  who  pive  the 
Hanio  reply  as  hefore,  and  the  full  rountl  was  ordered  and 
;:iveii  a^'ain.  Then  he  ordered  him  t<>  he  cut  down,  swear- 
in,:^  that  he  would  whip  him  to  death  the  next  time  ho 
heard  »tf  his  prayini;.  Hut  ho  swore  he  'd  have  the  little 
devil,  IMiil.,  whipped  to  <Uath  now,  as  he  was  lirst  in  this 
'devilish'  piayin;;.  As  I  expected  to  die,  I  juayed  all 
throii'di  this  terrilile  ordeal  that.  Jesus  would  eonie  near  to 


help 


)  me  eialure  it,  in  his  name. 


a  Tuoment   to  find  utterance.     "  Massa  hid  July  p)  Ik 


"  I  felt  him   Wkv.  hv.  was  hy  my  side,"  continued  rnele 
Philip,  as  the  tears  (Iroi)ped  thick  and  fast,  ofleii  stopping 

)nio 

an'  hehave,  an'  la;  order'  de  overseer  to  jrivc  me  another 
round  unless  I  'd  promiso  to  stop  prayin'.  But  it  'pearc<l 
like  I  felt  stronger  in  de  L(m1,  an'  I  ^dve  de  .«ame  answer, 
and  r  can't  tell  how  long  I  was  whij)ped  an'  paddled,  for 
>vheii  I  cum  to,  I  was  cut  down,  and  layin'  in  de  hlood  en 
de  groun'— I  fainted  away.  Massa  was  lookin'  at  me  tliar 
in  his  ni.rlit  shirt ;  I  se(>  him  as  (Tar  as  if  't  was  done  yes- 
terday, lie  swore  I  should  never  cum  in  his  sight  aira in,  )r 
cum  inside  dat  gate,  pointing  to  it.  I  pray(>d  in  my  he;irt 
for  Ood  to  give  me  strength  to  git  up  and  walk  to  de 
<piart(Ts,  for  the  pain  an'  lo.s.s  of  hlood  made  nie  so  weak 
an'  faint.     Bui  do  good  T^o'd  was  thar,  an'  1  presently  got 


i>trong  enough  to  get  up  an    tndk  my  .siij)  m  lian  ,  an   siag- 
gcrcd  out  dat  yard,  and  cum  up  to  July.     Ih;  stop  on  d(; 


way  to  see  if  I  wa.s  'live 


W 


lieu  wo  pass  do  {piarters  a 


ill 


along,  do  old  men  an'  women  tstoud  at  their  doors  cryin' 


I 


n' 


n 


4n 


A  woman's  likk-wouk. 


I  !       (1  ! 


i  > ' 


Wlicii  wo  got  out  o'  sight  of  tie  great  house,  one  ole  man 
an'  'onian  called  us  to  'em  an'  oiled  our  hacks.  J)a  i-aid 
Ave  waa  all  cut  up  to  a  jelly,  an'  put  soft  cloth  over  de 
gashes.  Our  people  tried  harder 'u  ever  to  stoj)  our  i)rayin' 
an'  singin',  caze  JMassa  Malachi  sure  to  kill  us. 

•'A  few  days  after  nuissa  sent  for  me,  an'  I  'spected 
he'd  finish  mc  dis  time  :ure.  But  I  felt  Jesus  was  close 
by  me;  I  was  weak  in  do  body,  but  strong  in  de  Lo'd.  I 
obeyed,  as  I  stood  all  trimbly  afore  'im.  *  Well,  howlin* 
preacher,  if  you  are  boun'  to  preach  you  shall  preach,'  an' 
he  swore  I  should  have  enough  of  it.  'Next  Sunday,  at 
eleven  o'clock  you  shall  preach;  I'm  going  to  invite  all  the 
white  folks  an'  black  people  'round  here  to  cum  to  hear  de 
big  preacher.  I'm  going  to  have  a  pulpit  built  under  that 
big  tree'  (pointing  to  one  in  the  yard  two  rods  from  the 
one  the  ropes  were  tied  to  when  we  was  whipped).  'Now 
we'll  have  a  big  mcetln'  to  hear  de  big  i)reachcr.  You 
iniderstan',  do  you?'  'Yes,  tiiassa,'  I  say,  an'  he  sent  mo 
away.  I  tol'  July  what  massa  said.  'Now  we  nuis'  pray  to 
(lod  to  sen'  a  minister,  an'  pray  God  to  soften  massa's 
heart,  to  let  'im  preach,  for  you  knows  ^lassa  Malachi 
will  <lo  jus'  as  he  says  he  will,  an'  God  will  answer  our 
prayer.'  At  nights  I  went  to  one  jjlantation  an'  July 
went  to  another,  an'  Me  tried  to  git  some  Cliristian  man 
or  some  Christian  woman  to  promise  to  preach  if  massa 
would  con.-jcnt.  But  not  one  would  promise.  They  all 
knew  it  was  just  for  sport.  Sunday  morning  came  with  u 
great  parade  of  hauling  boards,  aii'  a  pulpit  was  built." 

Uncle  Philip  said  it  looked  jnore  terrifying  to  him 
•than  would  a  gallov>s  if  built  fc»r  his  own  hanging.  People 
gathered  from  all  directions,  both  white  and  colored,  and 
filled  the  whole  yard.  The  hour  of  eleven  brought  tlie 
master  to  the  door  in  his  arm-chair,  with  his  family  Jilble 
in  his  lap.  Taking  his  watch  from  his  pockets,  he  calKd 
out,  "Come  on,  my  big  preacher." 

"I  obeyed  the   conuuand,"  said  Uncle  Philip,  "as  I 


m 


UNCI.E   PHIL's   story. 


445 


as  I 


stood  afore  'im.  'Now  we  ure  to  hear  this  howling 
preatlur,'  he  said,  snoeriugly,  'and  you  can't  prcacli  with- 
out the  Bible,  an'  I'll  hold  it  wide  oj)en,  an'  you  nuist  look 
right  at  me  when  yoi!  preach.  The  time  is  up;  go  to 
your  pulpit.'  I  asked  July  if  he  would  go  up  with  me  aud 
help  me  sing — 

"  'My  Savior,  my  Almighty  Friend.' 

Nodding  an  assent,  we  went  on.  It  'pearcd  like  I  was  too 
weak  to  go  up  four  or  five  steps.  I  trimhled  an'  sweat 
all  over.  But  once  I  was  up  my  strength  cum  to  me,  and 
we  sung  so  loud  de  })cople  say  da  hear  ev'ry  word  all  over 
dat  great  yard.  By  de  time  we  got  to  de  las'  line  of  third 
verse  de  ])ei)ple  was  cryin'  fur  mercy  an'  down  on  dair 
knees  crying,  'Lo'd,  what  shall  I  do  to  he  saved?'  'Lo'd 
have  mercy  on  mo,  a  sinner!'  'Be  merciful  to  poor  me,  or 
I'm  lost."  These  cries  we  hear'u  from  every  side.  I  never 
felt  happier  or  bolder  in  my  life,  while  tears  of  joy  ran 
down  as  I  faced  my  olc  massa.  lie  slam  de  door  shut,  an' 
da  said  he  jumped  between  two  feather-beds  to  keep  from 
hearin'  de  crii'S  of  de  people.  I  tell  you,  honey,  dc;  Lo'd 
made  dat  hymn  my  sin-killer  on  dat  blessed  day,  long, 
long  to  be  'membered." 

"And  did  you  preach?"  I  asked. 

"Preach,  chile;  de  Lo'd  did  all  de  j)reachin'  <lat  day. 
We  finish'  de  hymn,  an'  we  went  d(»wn  an'  talked  an* 
])rayed  wid  de  seekers,  an'  we  staid  dar  all  night,  an'  aforo 
lu'xt  moriiin'  twenty-three  was  converted  an'  praisin'  Ood. 
Massa  call  for  me,  an'  I  'spi'cte<l  my  time  cum  now  any- 
how. But  I  was  ready  for  death  (tr  life.  I  went  without 
i'ear  of  any  thing.  He  looked  at  me  as  mile  as  a  land),  an' 
said,  'I'iiil,  my  boy,  you  may  prea(;h,  ]>ray,  or  sing  a.s 
nuich  as  you  phase,  an'  go  where  you  please,  an'  you  shall 
never  be  hit  another  lick  as  long  as  I  live.'  I  bowed  low 
an'  said,  'Thaidcy,  Massif  Malachi;  (Jod  bles?t  you,  massa.* 
1  praisi'd  God  as  1  turned  away  from  him  who  had  caused 
me  so  mut  h  suflerin'. 


liil 


III 


t 


I 


4 


^'i<  -^m 


I 


Iri 


i!  I"! 

■i  y. 
I  "t 


ff^ 


ilii'Ml  M 


446 


A  woman's  ijfr-work. 


"But  0(j(l  tuniod  it  into  :i  great  blcssiu'.  IIo  ilisniisscil 
his  overseer,  iiii'  never  'IowchI  one  of  iiis  slaves  to  be  pun- 
ish' after  that  great  day.  In  one  }'ear  seventy-three  on 
dat  phmtation  was  converted.  Two  nieces  of  niassa's  was 
'niong  'em,  besides  a  few  other  white  folks.  But  Massa 
IMalaclii  tried  to  git  Vni  to  give  u})  'ligion,  an'  sent  'em  to 
dancin'  Irolics.  An"  da  come  to  me  for  advice  as  if  I  was 
deir  brover.  I  tole  em  ^hlssa  Mahichi  took  keer  of  'em, 
'caze  day  was  orphans,  an'  de  sin  would  res'  on  de  undo 
dat  make  'eni  go  agin  deir  will,  and  not  on  dem.  Two 
years  after  one  of  em  got  married  an'  moved  tliirty  miles 
away,  an'  she  got  leave  of  massa  to  let  me  go  an'  stay  a 
week  or  two  at  a  time.  At  las',  poor  gal,  she  died  of  con- 
sumption, and  sent  for  me  a  month  afore  she  died  to  stay 
wid  her,  an'  she  often  asked  me  to  pray  wid  her.  O  how 
happy  she  died,  in  full  faith  in  de  'ligion  she  ibun'  on  do 
blessed  day  massa  compel  me  to  preach,  little  thinkin'  ho 
was  'pointin'  a  meetin'  for  do  Lo'd  of  liosts  instead  of  little 
Phil.  But  my  people  on  other  i)lantatioiis  often  .sent  for 
me  to  preach,  but  I  never  call  it  preaehin',  only  'li.'ious 
talks.  Da  wouhl  have  me  help  organize  Churches  all 
'roun'  thar.  In  four  years  we  organized  seven  Churchea 
an'  the  cause  i)rosi)ered. 

"At  las'  so  many  persecutions  an'  suiTerin'  was  goin'  on 
I  got  dishearte!ied.  I  began  to  question  whether  it  wau't 
nio  causiu'  all  dis  suflerin',  an'  I  stop  goin'  to  prayer-meet- 
in*  four  months,  an'  <le  ministers  an'  Christian  men  an* 
Christian  women  come  to  see  me  an'  say,  'Brodder  IMiilip, 
why  dnn't  you  come  to  meetin',  as  you  u.se'  to?'  I  tolo 
'em,  'caze  T  didn't  feel  like  il.  Said  one  man,  'I's 
ie;ired  de  (h'vil's  got  hold  of  you.'  I  tole  'im  I  'spccted 
he'd  had  hold  o'  me  a  long  while,  for  I  felt  1)ad  enough  to 
be  his  work.  I  tole  'im  Ma."<sa  Malachi  made  mo  i)reach, 
an*  ( »o»l  did  n't  have  nothiu'  to  do  wid  it,  for  he  knew  massa 
was  a  wicked  man." 

These    doubts  and  fears  seemed  to  follow  I^ncle  Philip 


i    I 


uncfj:  riiir. s  sTonv 


44: 


f«ini.-;S(Hl 

be  1)1111- 
iree   011 

lull's   Wll.S 

t  Mus.si 
t  'em  lo 

if  I    NVilS 

of  Vin, 
Ic  uiiclo 
1.     Two 
ty  miles 
i'  stay  a 
1  of  eoii- 
l  to  stay 
O  how 
n'  <iM  ilo 
inkiii'  lio 
of  little 
seut  f(»r 
'  'li;':ious 
'lies  all 
liurehes 

goin'  on 
it  waii't 
H-r  ineet- 
lucii  an' 
r  Philip, 
I  tolo 
an,  'I's 
'spectcd 
i('n;/h  lo 
|ii(  aeh, 
•\\  massa 

le  Philip 


(1 


(lav  and  ni<r 


1 


rht. 


until 


a.s  lie 


aitl,  his  distress  was  great. 
Then  he  fell  into  an  inseiisihle,  lifiless  state,  in  which  lie 
lay  tourteen  days.     Said  in' : 

"  My  mother  tlrcssed  me  for  di'  grave;  hut  as  my  lindt.s 
did  not  stilieii,  Massa  Malaehi  sent  for  a  doctor  who  placeil 
J  gla.ss  before  my  face,  an'  moisture  gathered  on  it.      Ilo 
tole  Vm   it  was    not   entirely  cole  over   de    heart,   an*  da 
mils' n't   hury  mc   until   decomposition    took    place,  caze   it 
might   he  a   trance.      An'  da   kep'  nie    in  de   kitchen   wid 
Aunt  Milla,  de  cook,  to  watch   me.      It  'peared    like    I 's 
goin'  down  inio  a  horrible  phue  of  awful  soun's  an'  rattlin' 
of  chains;  an'  I  i)rayed  mightily  for  help,  an'  Jesus  reached 
down  an'  took  my  han'  an'  lifteil  mo  ii[i  t(»  a  glorious  palace 
so  beautiful,  an'  every  thing  was  light.     Steps  seemed  built 
out  of  light,  somehow  made  into  sub'sance;   I  can't  'esciibo 
it.     My  guide  tole  me  I  was  wrong   to  doubt,  when  (Jod 
had  been  so  good  to  mo  in  all  my  hard  trials.     He  showed 
in'.-  do  windows  dat  let  light  down  to  di.s  earth,  an'  to  do 
L-iuirehes  I  helpt  organize.      It  seemed   lik(>  bein'  led  from 
place  to  place  into  a  mighty  big  country.      Wlu-n  I  seen 
'em  all  dri>ss'  in  pure  white  robes  an'  singin'  such  splendid 
music,  I  look  at  myself  and  see  how  filthy  an'   lagged    I 
look,  1  say  to  my  guide,  'I  can  never  go  in  dat  company.' 
*  Yes  v<>u  can  when  Jesus  wash  voii  in  his  blood.     All  voii 
see  >vas  as  filthy  an'  ragge<;  as  you.     But  da  is  made  cle;m.* 
An'  we  crossed  over  a  line  like,  an*  firs'  I  know  I  '.s  in  do 
pure  white  robe  too,  an'  singin'  wid  all  dat  great  company. 
()   I  can't   'escribe   how   happy   I   telt    in   rangin'  wid  my 
guide  de  fields  of  light  an'  sieh  glorious  visions.      At  las'  he 
said,  'You  mus' go  back  to  earth  an'  teach  your  people  d(> 
Wiiy  to  di.s  glorious  home,  dat  is  your  home  if  you  be  faith- 
ful in  readin'  dis  book.'     I  said,  '  I  am  a  slave  back  thar, 
an'  can't  read.'     'Hut  this  book  you  can  read,' an'  he  laid 
de  open  bo(»k  on  my  outstretched  lef'  arm;  de  tip  of  <lo 
goIdiMi  leaves  reach  the  tip  of  my  fingers,  an'  the  other  tip 
of  the  loaves  touch  my  head.     He  took  me  two  or  three 


M 


'i*  :■'  '   » 


•»    }f 


r  } 


448 


A    WOMAN  S    LIFE-WORK. 


littlo  stop.-!,  an'  I  tliou^^'lit  I  WHS  buck  to  earth,  an'  I  ask 
Aunt  Milla  for  a  <lrink  as  I  was  so  thirsty.  And  she 
sjiid  (le  huckot  (jf  water  was  on  de  bench,  an'  my  littlo 
cup  by  it. 

"  Wiien  I  cum  to  myse'f  I  was  standin'  by  de  bucket 
drinkin'  out  o'  my  cup.  But  nobody  was  mi  de  house  but 
INIina,  a  little  gal  'bout  eight  year  ole,  massa  bought  out 
of  a  drove  was  passin"  bj  de  kitchen  door,  and  run  to  the 
fiel'  shoutin'  all  de  way  'Phil's  alive!  Phil's  alive!'  An' 
all  de  ban's  on  de  plantation  cum  nnniin'  to  de  house, 
an'  my  mother  caught  me  firs',  '  Praise  God,  my  cliile'.s 
alive.'  De  firs'  I  said,  'Is  been  wrong  to  doubt  God; 
I  never,  never  will  doubt  him  any  more.'  1  never  can, 
for  I 's  had  a  glimpse  of  hell,  and  have  been  in  dat  beau- 
tiful world  of  light." 

I  have  given  Uncle  Philip's  narrative  in  liis  own  lan- 
guage as  I  took  it  down  in  my  note-book  at  the  time  of  my 
interviews  with  him.  His  was  indeed  a  green  old  age  ;  his 
mind  remarkablv  clear,  and  his  nu-morv  retentive.  From 
time  to  time,  as  I  read  a  chapter  or  a  psalm,  lie  often 
referred  to  certain  passages  that  he  had  dwelt  upon  since  I 
had  left  him.  In  relatnig  his  history  he  often  shed  tears; 
at  one  time  with  his  elbows  resting  upon  his  knees,  and 
face  buried  in  the  calico  'kerchief  until  it  was  wet.  At 
another  time  he  was  just  raising  himself  up  from  the  kneel- 
ing ])osition  when  I  came  in.  "I's  jus'  bin  prayin'  for 
y<»u,"  he  said.  "I  did  't  know  as  you  's  so  near,  but  I  felt 
your  spirit.  It  sort  o'  lif  s  nie  up  to  talk  wid  you.  I  prayed 
dat  de  good  seed  you  's  sowin'  'mong  our  people  may  lodge 
in  good  groun'  an'  bring  a  hundred  fol'.  De  men  you 
talked  to  on  do  bridge  'bout  swearin'  never  '11  forgit  your 
words,  You's  doin'  more  for  our  poor,  ignorant  people  dan 
you  knows  on." 

He  lived  about  a  year  after  I  left  Memphis,  Tennessee. 
I  sent  him  occasionally  two  or  three  <lollars,  thro\igh 
Superintendent  Barnum  or  his  wife,  who  often  culled  to  see 


UXCI.K    rilll-S   STOUY 


•MO 


'  I  ask 

1(1    slic 
f   littlo 

l)Uckot 
ise  but 
rlit  out 

to  tlio 
!'     An' 

house, 
r  chile's 
)t  God  ; 
-er  can, 
at  beau- 

)\vn  lan- 
le  of  luy 
age;  bis 
.  From 
he  of'U'ii 
11  since  I 
(I  tears; 


ecs, 
vet. 


IK' 


and 
At 
knecl- 

for 


|ayin 
it  I  I'elt 


|l  pray 
hul 


e( 


I 


iro 


nien  you 
[<jr\{  your 
[ople  duu 


his  wnnls  supplied.  The  last  words  he  uttered  were  a  few 
lines  of  one  of  lii.s  favorite  byinns,  "  Ciive  ine  win},'s,"  and 
lii.s  happy  spirit  look  its  fliirht,  havinj;  faithfully  read  the 
l)ook  he  said  he  had  always  kept  in  his  heart.  1  was  olten 
forcibly  impressed  while  conversing'  with  that  a<:ed  sjiint. 
How  manifest  is  the  power  of  our  Wonderl'ul.  in  his  deal- 
ing with  his  followers,  just  according  to  their  needs.  That 
j)oor  ignorant  man  could  not  read  the  written  Word  but 
God  took  hia  own  way  to  lea<l  and  instruct  him,  to  fit  him 
for  an  instrument  in  Uia  hand  of  turning  many  souls  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  truth  as  it  i.s  in  Jes',s. 

On  May  11,  1807,  I  took  the  cars  for  home.  Having 
instructions  from  the  American  Missionary  Association  and 
transportation,  I  took  fifteen  homeless  orphans  to  our  asy- 
lum in  my  former  .school,  Haisin  Institute.  I  left  this  field 
of  arduous  t<»iling,  often  passing  the  former  residence  of 
John  P.  and  Thomas  K.  Chester,  who  had  so  often  threat- 
ened my  life.  Both  dosed  tla-ir  earthly  career  by  untimely 
deaths.  I  reached  home  on  the  14th.  praising  the  (lod  of 
Daniel  for  his  keeping  power  in  the  lion's  den. 

:}8 


Sti 


?• 


m 


Minessee. 

tliro\igli 

ix\  to  sec 


^ff  1^^ 


450 


A  woman's  life-work. 


i    ;- 


vm 


'.■*    } 


k 


Chapter  XVI. 

"STATE  PUBLIC  SCHOOL." 

After  my  return  my  licnltli  gave  way,  as  did  also  that  of 
our  wortliy  ajjcnt,  Catherine  Taylor.  She  endured  great  suf- 
fering from  inflammation  of  the  sciatic  nerve,  and  was  en- 
tirely disabled  from  labor  for  months.  Late  in  the  Autumn 
our  supplies  ran  very  low,  and  our  self-sacrificing  president 
was  also  in  poor  health.  She,  with  a  few  other  mendjcrs  of 
the  board,  visited  the  asylum,  and  found  notiiing  on  iiand 
but  corn-meal  and  turnips,  which,  with  a  little  milk  that  was 
made  into  a  gravy,  was  all  there  was  to  keep  the  children 
from  starving.  Our  president  ran  in  debt  twenty-six  dol- 
lars at  the  mill  and  grocery  ;  but  on  Thanksgiving-day  a 
eoll(H'tion  of  sixtv-six  dollars  was  taken  for  the  asvlum. 
Tliis  li(|uiilal('d  the  debt,  and  furnished  the  necessary  food 
for  the  time  l)eing.  liut  Wiuti-r  was  approaching,  and  the 
failing  healtli  of  the  workers  seemed  to  forebode  the  neces- 
sity of  closing  our  asylum  work 

Mrs.  Catherine  Uice  corresp(,nded  with  friends  of  the 
work  in  Grand  Uajiids,  asking  them  to  unite  with  us  in  a 
ju'tition  to  t\\*.  State  Legislature  to  establi.'*h  a  t^'tate  manual 
labor  school  in  Grand  liiipids,  as  the  friends  in  that  city 
were  arranging  for  a  local  orjthan  asylum.  The  subject 
was  discussed  in  the  board,  l)ut  a  small  nuijority  voted 
v.gainst  uniting  their  local  interests  with  the  State  work. 
During  this  time,  all  new  material  sent  in  for  clothing  was 
exchangi'd  for  foo<l,  and  .Jane  A.  Smith  and  our  faithful 
teacher  :;i)i)lied  to  a  few  friends  and  received  lem[)orary  aid. 
On  DecendK-r  15,  1870,  we  found  the  provii^ious  too  short 
to  last  for  two  weeks.  The  (juestinii  came  up,  What  shall 
be  done  for  the  twenty  children  for  whom  no  homes  are 


ENCX)UKAGEMENTS. 


451 


JO  that  of 
great  suf- 
1  was  en- 
Autumn 
president 
'nibers  of 
;  on  hand 
:  that  was 
3  children 
ty-six  dul- 
injr-chvy  a 
[>  asyUnn. 

iiry  food 
and  tho 

he  neces- 

ds  of  the 
I  UH  in  a 
mtiu.iid 
ihai   city 
le  subject 
'ity  voted 
iito  Work, 
thing  was 
iliiihl'ul 
(•rary  aid. 
too  short 
'hat  Hhall 
h)nu'rt  are 


provided?  Under  the  circumstances,  tliere  seemed  no  al- 
ternat'.e  hut  to  return  the  chihlreu  to  tlieir  retipectivo 
county  infirmaries.  When  tliis  decision  was  reached  hy  the 
l)oard  of  manaj^'crs,  and  made  known  to  tiie  matron  and 
teacher,  ou  tlie  evening  of  their  week-(hiy  prayer-meetin«^', 
the  matron  informed  the  children  of  it.  Eleven  of  them 
had  made  a  profession  of  religion,  and  had  given  evidence 
of  having  found  Him  who  siid,  "Sutler  little  children  to 
come  unto  me,  and  forhid  them  not."  Each  of  these  oHlred 
earnest  ))rayer  for  Go<l  to  help  them  live  so  fiiithfully  that 
he  would  make  friends  for  them,  to  bring  them  something 
to  eat,  "so  we  won't  have  to  go  back  to  the  county  iM)or- 
house." 

All  this  time  my  cliildrcn  and  friends  had  not  allowed 
me  to  know  the  condition  of  the  a.^ylum.  Our  firm  friend, 
Rebecca  Betniett,  and  our  president  called  on  my  physician 
to  ask  j)ermi.ssion  to  see  me  for  atlvice  as  to  whom  they 
could  write  for  aitl.  lie  replied,  "  Willi  your  calm  and 
judicious  manner,  I  can  risk  you."  But  they  came  far 
short  of  making  a  full  n-velation  of  the  true  state  of 
things.  I  advised  theju  to  write  the  superintendent  of  the 
Congregationalist  Sabbath-scho<jl  at  Franklin  Center,  and 
to  the  pastor  of  the  Methodist  E})i.scopal  Church  in  T<;- 
cumseh.  They  j)roposed  that  I  should  dictate  to  my 
daughter  what  to  write.  This  was  done,  and  my  appeal 
was  read  in  their  res])ective  congregations.  Within  a  week 
two  sleigh-loads,  containing  grain,  flour,  meal,  and  be( f, 
and  a  whole  dressed  sheep,  came  fntm  those  places.  The 
drivers  rolled  in  barrel  after  barrel  from  each  of  the 
sleighs,  and  said  they  would  bring  more  before  this  was 
gone.     One  little  boy  of  eleven  years  .siid  : 

"  Mrs.  Smith,  do  n't  you  think  (lod  sent  all  this  'cause 
we  prayed  so  hard  flu^  other  night?" 

"  My  child,"  she  answered,  "  the  Lord  has  heard  our 
prayers,  and  has  answered  ;  and,  idfhongh  it  is  snowing 
hard,  yet  ytui  must  hurry,  and  hitch  Jack  to  the  Imggy  jw 


s 

rf 


452 


A  woman's  t.ife-work. 


i-i.    f 


p  : 

In"] 


■I 


I'     '    '-'     I 


iv''\n: 


I- 


quick  as  possihlo,  so  tlmt  wc  can  lot  Mrs.  Iliivilaiul  know 
this;  for  I  have  been  al'raid  she  lias  l)cen  worse  since  she 
learned  we  were  so  nearly  out." 

Soon  she  ciinic  into  my  room  with  the  gla<l  ti(lin;^'s: 
"  Do  not  take  another  anxious  tliou;.'ht  over  oiir  asylum. 
We  had  mort!  supjilies  come  to  us  t(Hlay  than  we  have 
had  lor  two  months — two  heavy  sleiLdi-loads."  W(!  elaspcd 
each  others'  hands  and  wept  I'or  joy,  and  praised  i'u.A, 
from  whom  all  lilessinn;s  flow. 

This  news  revived  the  spirits  of  those  whoso  hands  wen; 
hanging  down,  and  gave  them  courage  to  reup})oint  otti- 
cers.  Uev.  Dr.  Asa  Mahan's  wife  served  as  president, 
with  other  ofKeers,  duly  elected.  A  pi'tition  to  the  Legis- 
lature was  drafted  and  industriously  cirenhited,  and  printed 
C()pies  were  sent  to  a  nund)cr  of  the  snperint(Midents  of  c^)un- 
ties  who  hail  favored  our  project.  Though  the  Legislature 
was  in  sessinii,  and  there  was  not  time  to  cii-ulate  it  as  ex- 
tensively as  desirable,  yet  Dr.  Mahan  and  others  thought 
it  might  snccfcd,  although  then;  were  heavy  drafts  ujion 
our  Legislature  of  1^70-71.  The  8tate  Prison  was  lo  he 
eidarged,  the  Insane  Asylum  to  he  improved,  and  additions 
to  Ann  Arbor  University  made,  while  there  were  still 
other  calls  for  approja-iations.  All  these  made  the  success 
of  our  scheme  look  doubtful  tc  many.  All  1  could  do  was  to 
continue  in  prayer  that  senators  and  representatives  might 
feel  the  importance  of  looking  after  the  pressing  wants  of 
our  future  men  and  women,  foon  to  fdl  our  vacated  j)laces. 
I  found  many  children  in  the  county  poor-house  through 
the  debauchery  of  tiieir  fathers,  and  occasionally  mothers. 

The  im]>rovement,  both  in  conduct  and  in  morals,  of 
the  neglected  little  waifs  whom  we  had  gathered  into  our 
asylum,  urged  us  on  in  our  work  ;  for  we  realized  that  our 
experiment  was  a  success.  Our  friends  were  thus  encour- 
aged to  jiress  forward  with  the  jietition. 

Dr.  ]\Iahan  and  his  wife,  our  president,  went  liefore  the 
Legislature  with   the  view  of  [)ressing  our  claims.     ]\Iem- 


n 


sTATK  rrni-ir  snuxn 


»» 


4:>;J 


1  know 
lu'c  she 

titlin;.'!^  •• 
a.^yluin. 

I'd  CI<!«1, 

lids  were 
M)int  <»tti- 
pivsidt'nt, 
he  Le^'is- 
id  printed 
ts  ot'  coiin- 
A'L'i-^uturo 
o  it  us  ex- 
t-^  thoii^lit 
il'ts  upon 
\\:\s  \(>  he 
additions 

were   Btill 
le  success 

do  was  to 
Ives  might 

wants  ot 
ted  places. 
:c  througii 
mothers, 
morals,  of 
Id  into  (uir 

d  that  our 

us  eneour- 

hi^i'ire  the 
Ins.     ^leni- 


l)ors  of  the  Senate  and  ITouso  proposed  to  ^'rant  Dr.  Mahaii 
OIK!  eveiiin^:;  in  representing  tlie  jmijeet,  and  left  it  in  the 
hands  nf  the  Coniniittee  on  IVtitions.  Senatt)r  Handall, 
of  Coldwater,  put  it  in  the  form  of  a  hill  that  covered  the 
spirit  and  riTpiests  of  the  i>etition.  Being  chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Bills,  he  ])resented  it  in  the  Senate.     It  w 


XH 


})assed  in  that  hody,  to  our  great  joy,  and  soon  after  was 
l)assed  in  the  House,  and  received  the  governor's  signature, 
making  it  a  law. 

Though  only  thirty  thousand  dollars  were  ap[)ropriated 
hy  the  Legislature  with  which  to  comnniice  operations, 
yet  I  knew  the  Static  would  carry  on  the  work  hereafter. 
The  site  for  the  new  asylum  was  to  ho  selected  at  whatever 
desirahlo  locality  ofiered  the  most  liheral  donation.  As 
Coldwater  offered  thirty  thousand  dollars  toward  the  new 
enterprise,  it  was  located  in  that  city.  While  the  huild- 
ings  for  the  State  school  were  heing  erected,  our  asylum 
was  moved  into  the  city  of  Adrian,  as  at  that  point  it  was 
more  convenient  for  the  sisters  coini)osing  tin-  hoard  of 
managers  to  care  for  it.  When  the  "State  Puhlic-  School'' 
should  ho  oi)ened,  all  in  our  asylum  not  provided  with 
homes  were  to  he  transferred  to  it. 

jNIy  health  improved  sulhciently  to  cnahle  me  to  make 
a  few  appeals  to  hring  up  arrears  in  our  work.  The  ma- 
tron and  myself  had  received  hut  very  littK',  as  all  went 
to  the  support  of  the  children.  I  cared  hut  little  for  n>y- 
eelf;  hut  f^r  sister  Smith,  who  had  heen  such  a  faithful 
mother  to  these  poor  children,  T  was  more  anxi(»us.  At 
length  I  scH'ured  permission  of  my  tender  care-takers— my 
two  (laughters — to  go  among  my  friends  in  Detroit.  To 
most  of  them  I  ap[)('ale(l  hy  letter,  and  made,  hut  one  pcr- 
somil  call.  That  was  more  particvdarly  in  the  interest  of 
a  prisoner  for  whom  I  solicited  a  pardon.  This  was  at 
l(!nirth   granted,      (lovernor    Baldwin    had    known   of  mv 


isylum  work,  ar.d    iiKpiireil   after   its  interests 


He 


n 


;i 


gave 


me  twenty  dollars  towards  it.     Mr.   Crapo's  sou  gave  me 


■i      :    < 


■III 


J  '    ,    ■  E 


^ll 


J;^ 

w 


■ : !  ?l .  . 


451 


..» 


A    WOMAN'S    I-IFK-WOniv. 


twctity-fivo  dollars,  niul  Captuiii  K.  IJ.  Ward  fifty  dollurs. 
Others  reisjKnidc'd  to  my  letter.s,  uud  I  obtuinetl  over  two 
luindrcd  dollars. 

The  great  fires  in  Chicago  and  Northern  Michigan 
stopped  fiirthcr  work  of  this  character;  but  we  <lid  what 
y\Q  could  toward  canceling  arrearages,  being  conlident  that 
>vere  it  not  fi)r  the  continued  and  faithful  tt)iling  of  Jano 
A.  Smith  the  asylum  would  have  died  (luring  my  long  and 
serious  illness.  It  must  have  died,  even  after  its  removal 
to  Adrian,  had  it  not  been  for  a  faithful  few. 

A  few  months  after  the  State  Public  School  was  opened 
at  Coldwater,  in  charge  of  Professor  Truesdell,  superintend- 
ent, and  Miss  Emma  A.  ITall,  matron.  I  went  into  tho 
whool  as  sean)stress  and  nurse,  and  remained  there  nearly 
two  years.  Instead  of  overhauling,  cutting,  and  making 
over  second-hand  clothes  for  the  three  hundnnl  little  home- 
less waifs  we  had  cared  for  in  our  orphans*  home,  we  wero 
now  well  sup})lied  with  bolts  of  substantial  new  material, 
out  of  which  wc  made  comfortable  bedding  and  clothing. 
Hero  wc  had  no  care  about  furnishing,  and  no  anxious 
li'ar  for  their  supi)ort.  With  pleasure  we  saw  the  vast 
contrast  in  conveniences  and  supplies  comi)ared  with  our 
little  rill  in  which  we  so  long  paddled  our  own  canoe,  and 
in  which  faithful  laborers  were  still  at  work.  It  matters 
not  by  whom  this  great  work  was  accomplished;  it  matters 
not  by  what  agencies  our  prayer  of  more  than  four  years 
long,  previous  to  the  adopting  of  this  work  by  the  State, 
was  answered.  Through  an  overruling  power  clouds  and 
icelKM'gs  vanished,  and  in  lieu  thereof  the  ma.ssive  brick 
buildings  of  tho  State  Public  School  in  Coldwater  were 
raised,  instead  of  the  old  Itaisiu  lustitute,  where  it  drew 
its  first  breath. 


n»UXTY  IVFIUMARY. 


455 


over  two 

Michigft" 
(Vul  wliiit 
idont  tlmt 
g  of  J  alio 
r  long  iintl 
^  ri'iuovul 

vas  opciiod 
jpcriuti'tnl- 
jt  into  the 
Irtc  nearly 
nd  making 
little  home- 
,10^  wc  were 
iw  material, 
1(1  clothing, 
no  anxious 
iw  tlie  vai*t 
mI  with  our 
ciinoe,  aud 
It  niatters 
;  it  matters 
|i  four  years 
y  tl\c  State, 
clouds  and 
rtssive  briek 
^Iwuter  were 
lere  it  drew 


Chapter  XVII. 

CHltTSTIAN  LAHOll  AND  RKSl  LTS. 

It  seemed  refreshing  to  meet  with  Hymimfiiizing  friends 
after  toiling  for  months  among  falst;  brethren.  It  was  a 
relief  to  enjoy  a  Utw  days  of  freedom    from  ( 


are.     After 

asking  a  lew  friends  to  sign  an  article  of  agreement  to  pay 
one  dollar  a  year  (hiring  five  yeai-s  for  tlie  orphan  asylum, 
and  n)jiiling  a  couple  of  letters  to  Levi  Coffin  and  Kev.  E. 
M.  CVavalh,  of  Cincinnati,  I  took  from  the  (tfliee  a  dnij)- 
letter  from  Mr.  Burton  Kent,  County  SujH'rintendent  of 
the  Poor,  containing  the  following  notice: 

"Miw.  Laiha  S.  IlAViLANn,-~>b»ny  jx-rsons  trans- 
ported i)y  you  last  year  have  become  a  county  charge,  and 
it  has  become  an  iu(olerai)le  burden  to  the  tax-payers. 
Any  person  bringing  a  child  or  indigent  person  into  this 
county  without  being  legally  indentured,  shall  Ikj  prose- 
cuted to  the  full  extent  of  the  law." 

AVithin  five  minutes  after  reading  the  above  notice  I 
was  ou  my  way  to  our  County  P(K)r- house,  thrive  mih^s 
from  town.  To  my  surprise  I  found  that  no  colored  child 
had  been  there,  and  of  the  fifty-one  inmates  but  three  were 
colored,  and  only  one  man  (Mr.  Morris  Brown)  who  camo 
with  me  the  previous  Siinimer  had  been  received.  He 
was  discharged  in  a  short  time.  A  stay  at  the  inlirniary 
for  two  months  and  a  half  was  a  burdrn,  but  was  it  "intol- 
erable to  the  tax-payers"  of  our  county? 

I  felt  that  I  must  search  diligently  to  discover  all  the 
facts.  I  called  on  Mr.  lb  Ims,  who  said  there  was  a  widow 
with  four  or  five  children  that  was  sick  a  couple  of  weeks, 
and  he  had  supplied  her  with  a  load  of  wood  and  grocer- 
ies.    I  a.«ked  for  the  cost,  but  as  it  was  not  convenient  for 


If! 


.  If.  .- 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

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i  I 


AVO.M A  N 'S    LI F E- WO RK . 


liim  to  give  the  figures  then,  lie  said  he  would  furnish 
tliem  the  following  Tuesday.  Mr.  Young  had  told  him 
that  he  had  buried  a  family.  I  called  to  learn  what  family 
it  was  in  his  ward.  He  gave  the  name  of  the  nmn  who 
died  after  a  short  illness,  and  to  whom  he  had  uxken  a 
load  of  wood,  a  small  sack  of  flour,  and  some  other  grocer- 
ies. I  inquired  if  he  had  taken  these  things  to  them  more 
than  once.  lie  said  he  had  not,  as  his  wife  was  all  there 
Avas  to  look  after,  and  she  took  care  of  herself  after  her 
husband's  death.  He  gave  me  the  exjienscs — eight  dollars 
and  ninety -six  cents.  I  called  on  Mr.  Helms  at  three  ap 
pointed  times,  and  failed  to  get  his  precise  figures,  but, 
placing  them  at  highest  rates,  from  all  I  could  gather 
it  could  not  have  been  more  than  thirty-five  dollars.  I 
wrote  an  article  for  the  Adrian  Times,  in  which  I  stated 
the  figures,  and  informed  the  citizens  and  tax-i)ayers  of 
Lenawee  County  that  this  orphan  asylum  was  under  the 
auspices  of  the  American  Missionary  Association,  Avhich 
was  responsible  for  its  support.  I  solicited  some  mathe- 
matician to  give  us  the  fraction  of  a  mill  to  each  tax- 
payer as  his  Lhare  of  this  "intolerable  burden  upon  the 
tax-payers." 

Our  county  superintendents  of  the  poor.  Burton  Kent 
and  Allen  Warren,  the  officials  from  whom  I  received  the 
notice,  were  surj^rised  to  learn  that  the  American  IMissiou- 
ary  Association  was  the  responsible  party.  But  all  these 
threats  sprang  from  prejudiced  parties,  and  clearly  indi- 
cated the  necessity  of  a  few  strokes  of  the  reconstruction 
brush  north  of  j\Iason  and  Dixon's  line,  a?  well  as  south 
of  it,  to  obliterate  the  color-line.  Friends  here  and  there 
paid  me  a  dollar  on  their  pledge  of  a  dollar  a  year,  and 
our  colored  friends  in  the  city  of  Adrian — Sarah  Lewis, 
with  her  brothers  and  Mr.  Wilson,  managers  of  a  festival — 
realized  thirty-two  dollars  and  sixty-one  cents,  cash,  and 
fifty  pounds  of  meat,  beans,  fruit  and  clothing,  valued  at 
fiftv  dollars. 


M 


\  furnish 
told  him 
lat  family 
man  who 
I  taken  a 
icr  grocer- 
hem  more 
3  all  there 
'  after  her 
.rht  dollars 
t  three  ap 
rures,  hut, 
villi  gather 
dollars.     I 
jh  I  stated 
x-payers  of 
1  under  the 
ion,   -which 
line  mathc- 
cach  tax- 
upou  the 

iirton  Kent 
}ceivcd  the 
Ian  ^Missiou- 
lit  all  these 
llearly  indi- 
Isonstruction 
[W  as  south 
and  there 
year,  and 
[rah  Lewis, 
la  festival — 
cash,  and 
valued  at 


s 


REKKIXG   A    HOME. 


457 


July  tlio  Fourth 


dav  for  the  fortv  little 


ly  iiio  rouriii  was  a  merry  <lay  tor  the  lorty  in 
folks  at  tlie  asylum.  At  dark  tire-crackers,  torpedoes  and 
sky-rockets  flew  in  every  direction  for  an  hour,  when  all 
were  arranged  in  a  semicircle  and  sang  "  Jolni  Brown," 
"Red  White  and  Blue,"  "Rally  'Round  the  Flag,  Boy.s" 
and  a  few  temperance  songs,  m  great  glee.  It  was  a 
happy  group.  We  had  a  few  '-isitors,  who  left  us  the  liajv 
pier  for  seeing  the  children  and  listening    to  their  sweet 


voices  in  song. 


I  was  often  engaged  in  procuring  good  homes  for  these 
orphans.  A  few  homes  were  found  that  were  not  suita- 
ble, and  the  children  were  withdrawn  and  placed  in  other 
homes. 

On  September  19th  I  met  ]\irs.  Edgcrton,  the  matron  of 
our  asylum,  with  T.  D.  Allen,  of  Kalamazoo,  agent  under 
J.  R.  Shiphcrd,  secretary  of  the  American  IMissionary 
Association,  who  were  authorized  to  build  a  school-room  for 
the  asylum.  Heretofore  the  children's  play-room  had  been 
used  for  the  school  duriu'^  the  Avarm  season.  As  the 
American  IMissionarv  Association  was  doing  a  great  work 
in  the  late  slave  States  in  maintaining  frcedmen's  schools, 
the  officers  concluded  to  solicit  aid  in  the  Stale  of  ^lich- 
igan  for  the  building  of  the  much  needed  school-room. 
They  urged  me  to  engage  in  this  work,  but  I  thouglit  tliat 
I  had  done  my  share,  in  giving  the  time  I  had  to  solicit- 
ing money  for  the  purcliasc  of  supplies.  Besides  Elizabeth 
L.  Comstock  had  given  one  thousand  (hdlars  in  money, 
with  which  to  enlarge  the  little  farm  to  thirty-five  acres, 
buy  a  horse,  and  furnish  the  little  folks  with  hats,  etc. 
Then  I  wanted  to  look  for  a  home,  as  I  was  becoming 
rather  weary  of  singing  tlie  old  song, 

"  Xo  foot  of  land  do  T  possess, 
No  cottage  in  this  wilderness." 

This  had  been  nr\'  condition  for  nearly  three  vears;  but 
with  all  my  pleading,  I  failed  to  be  released.  As  it  was 
already  cooler  weather,  and  Winter  would  soon  overtake  us, 

m 


Pi  l 


ib  '■ 


^Wt    ft  % 


I' 


it  ' 


»' 


■ ,  ■■  I 


458 


A  woman's  life-work. 


HI 


I     I  ! 


T.  D.  Allen  said  I  had  worked  long  enough  without  re- 
ward, save  that  of  ])kvssing  tlicse  little  homeless  waifs,  and 
now,  it'  I  would  take  hold  of  this  enterprise,  I  should  bo 
paid  the  same  amount  he  was  receiving. 

At  length  I  agreed  to  spend  a  week  or  two  at  least, 
and  took  from  him  the  bill  of  all  the  kinds  of  hnnber 
needed,  and  left  for  Detroit.  Judge  F.  C.  Beaman  fur- 
nished u)G  with  a  letter  of  introduction,  indorstid  by  Rev. 
Dr.  George  Duffield,  of  Detroit.  I  called,  as  he  advised, 
ou  Samuel  Pitts,  who  subscribed  one  hundred  dollars  in 
hnnber.  I  selected  out  of  my  bill  what  was  first  called 
for  to  enable  the  carpenters  already  engaged  to  commence 
their  work.  I  then  called  on  Mr.  Coo})er,  freight  agent,  to 
secuiC,  if  possible,  free  transportation  to  Adrian;  to  him  I 
gave  my  introductory  letter.  When  he  glanced  at  the 
heading,  without  reading  it,  he  gave  it  a  toss  ou  his  table 
toward  me,  with  a  look  of  disgust,  saying,  "  I've  seen  that 
thing  before,  and  I  'vc  nothing  to  do  with  it." 

"  That  is  a  mistake,"  said  I ;  "  that  paper  is  from  F.  C. 
Beaman,  and  not  a  week  old." 

"If  I'm  not  vcnj  much  mistaken  I  've  seen  it  before." 

"Well,  you  are  very  much  mistaken,  for  I  brought  it 
to  this  city  with  mc  yesterday,  and  I  have  not  been  iu 
your  office  until  this  minute.  But  I  am  not  soliciting 
money.  I  only  called  to  see  if  I  can  secure  free  transpor- 
tation for  one  hundred  dollars'  worth  of  lund)er  to  Adrian 
for  an  orphan  sch.ool-room ,  as  forty  little  homeless  wail's, 
under  our  care,  have  no  school-room,  excej)t  a  wood-house 
and  })lay-room.     The  cold  Aveather  will  soon  overtake  us." 

He  listened  patiently  to  my  short  si)cech,  and  said  he 
had  no  authority  to  grant  such  a  favor;  that  I  would  have 
to  write  to  C.  H.  Hatch,  then  in  Chicago. 

"I  know  he  would  grant  it,"  I  said,  "for  he  granted 
this  quarter  pass  ou  his  road  for  my  mission  work,"  show- 
ing the  pass. 

He  turned  it  over  and  spent  double  the  time  in  exam- 


ithout  re- 
wuiff*,  and 
should  bo 

0  at  least, 
of   lumber 
Hainan  fuv- 
;tl  by  Ilev. 
he  advised, 
dollars  in 
first  called 
)  commence 
ht  agent,  to 
n ;  to  him  I 
need  at  the 
ou  his  table 
've  seen  that 

s  from  F.  C. 

it  before." 
|l  brought  it 
not  been   in 
lot  soliciting 
[ree  trauspor- 
er  to  Adrian 
iiielesa  Avaifs, 
^vood-houso 
(vertake  us." 
and  said  he 
^Yould  have 

he  granted 
|\v(jrk,"  show- 

Ime  in  exam- 


A   IIOMK   TROCURED. 


459 


iiiing  it  tluit  he  did  on  mv  introductory  letter,  and  said, 
slowly,  "I  think  I  Avill  risk  sending  this  car-load,"  and 
wrote  an  order  to  his  assistant  to  send  it  fortlnvilli  to 
Adrian. 

I  thankfully  returned  to  my  duty  of  calling  on  tiic  list 
of  the  benevolently  inclined  wealtliy  })ersons  whose  names 
Dr.  Duflield  and  J.  F.  Cijnover  had  furnished.  Ivev.  Dr. 
Hogarth,  Mr.  Ilayniond,  the  bock-merchant,  and  lie  v.  Dr. 
Duffield  gave  sufficient  to  i)ay  the  cartage  (»f  the  lumber 
to  the  depot.  Soon  it  was  ou  its  way.  I  dined  at  Closes 
Sutton's,  who  gave  So,  and  his  sister  Annie  SI.  jMr. 
Brooks  gave  me  $2~)  in  hnnher.  Mr.  Bronson  gave  five 
thousand  shingles ;   another  gave  S2.50  in  shingles. 

After  a  few  «lays  at  home  I  returned,  Octoher  2.1th,  to 
Detroit,  and  toiled,  like  the  fishermen,  nearly  all  day,  and 
caught  nothing.  Weary,  and  almost  discouraged,  I  was 
about  to  retire  to  my  resting-place  at  Augustus  Lcggett's, 
when  one  gave  $5,  another  S2.  The  following  day  I  calk'd 
on  C.  Merrill,  who  gave  $■) ;  an(^ther  gave  So ;  ^Ir.  It.  C. 
Kennick  gave  SIO;  ]Mr.  Whitney  gave  So.  Weariness 
coaxed  me  to  another  sweet  resting-place,  the  home  of  my 
dear  friends  J.  F.  and  Hannah  Conover.  I  called  on  a 
few  persons  whose  names  had  been  given  me  by  ^Slr.  Pal- 
mer, from  w!iom  I  received  $17 ;  and  from  a  few  others  I 
received  S15.  John  Bagley  gave  SIO;  another  gave  So; 
rtev%  J.  A.  Baughman,  So;  and  Mr.  King,  his  son-in-law, 
So.  1  also  called  on  Governor  Crapo,  who  gave  So.  Otli- 
ers  gave  $5,  $2,  and  $\,  until  I  had  forty  dollars  more  to 
aid  in  constru(!ting  our  school-room. 

We  secured  sufficient  means  to  build  our  school-room. 
In  all,  with  the  favors  granted  by  the  ^licdiigan  SoutlKirn 
and  Lake  Shore  Kailroad,  we  received  about  four  hun- 
dred dollars. 

Through  the  kindness  of  my  friend,  L.  Tabor,  Esq., 
who  purchased  a  house  and  small  lot  fi)r  me,  I  again  had 
a  place  for  my  children  to  occui)y,  which  I  could  call  my 


^\ 


I'l', 


:H!'  • 


.».» 


i:i 


;i  I 


!    'I 


i     ! 


l'  •^' 

i           ■  i  ' 

$i 

11'     -  ^ 

m 

»  '('■ 

m 

II 

i 

JMi, 

A  woman's  ijfe-work. 


lioiiKi ;    for   wlik'li    I   praised    the    Lord,   fruni    whom    all 
blessings  flow. 

As  our  orphan  asylum  was  now  in  a  good  condition, 
]\rrs.  Edgcrton,  the  matron,  said  iho  secretaries  of  the 
three  divisions  of  the  Missionary  Association,  Chicago, 
Cincinnati,  and  New  York,  met  and  voted  her  one  hun- 
dred dollars  a  mouth,  with  which  to  carry  forward  this 
asylum.  She  deemed  this  an  ample  sujjply,  with  what  had 
been  raised  on  the  i)lace.  She  said  it  was  then  on  a  more 
substantial  basis  than  it  had  been  during  the  vear  she  had 
had  it  in  charge. 

Through  General  O.  0.  Howard  I  learned  that  mission 
work  was  much  needed  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  and 
received  from  him  transportation  to  that  city  by  way  of 
AVashington,  District  of  Cohnnbia. 

INIy  health  being  now  restored,  on  January  20,  LSGO,  I 
left  my  sweet  home  and  lov(!d  ones  at  three  o'clock  P. 
^\.,  and  sj)ent  the  night  in  Toledo,  with  my  old  fiiends, 
AVilliam  jNIerritt  and  wile.  I  attended  witii  tiiem  the 
prayer-meeting  in  the  new  colored  church.  I  arrived  at 
I'ittsburii;  with  but  little  detention.  Passinti"  throui^h  the 
mountains,  we  found  the  snow  deeper  than  when  I  left 
^Michigan.  At  seven  A.  jNF.  we  passed  the  wreck  of  three 
cars  Avliich  liad  run  off  the  end)ankiiient  and  were  still 
burning.  AnuMig  the  killed  taken  from  the  wreck  was  a 
woman  ])artially  burnt.  1  did  not  learf  the  number  of 
killed  and  injurcMl.  Among  these  dead  and  dying  I  should 
probably  have  l)een  had  I  not  spent  the  night  in  Toledo, 
as  this  was  the  train  I  would  have  been  on  had  I  remained 
on  the  one  I  left.  O,  how  sad  to  look  upon  this  smolder- 
ing wreck,  from  which  I  had  so  narrowly  escaped!  This 
was  the  third  accident  of  this  kind  Avhich  I  had  thus  prov- 
identially missed  in  my  travels  by  river  and  rail  of  three 
thous:ind  miles.  i\Iany  are  the  dangers,  seen  and  unseen, 
through  which  I  have  passed,  aii<l  the  remembrance  of 
this  disaster  calls  forth  a  renewed  song  of  deliverance  and 


m 


WORK  OF    INKI>KtTION. 


4()1 


whom   aU 

condition, 
rios  of  the 
,,   Chica«ro, 
r  one  hun- 
)Y\\'M-(\  this 
th  what  had 
1  on  a  more 
rear  she  had 

that  mipsiou 
:^arolina,  and 
r  by  way  of 

y  20,  180)0,  I 
ce  o'chit'k  P. 
:  old  friends, 
th    tlicm    the 
I  arrived  at 
tlirouy;h  the 
when  I  h'ft 
,vck  of  three 
ud  ^Yerc  still 
wreck  was  a 
c  nuniher  of 
ying  I  yhoidd 
hi  in  Toledo, 
id  I  renn\ined 
this  sniolder- 
.capcd!     This 
ad  thus  prov- 
rail  of  three 
|n  and  unseen, 
Dcmbranee  of 
diverauee  and 


praise  for  the  (niiding  IfauJ  that  presorves  through    the 
vic'is^situdes  (jf  this  ovt'r-cliangiug  life. 

I  arrived  iu  Washington  early  in  the  morning,  and  took 
l)roaktti.st  with  my  friend  Dr.  Gh-nan.  More  I  found  my 
brother,  Harvey  Smith,  and  hi.s  son,  who  were  teaching 
freedmeu's  schools,  and  with  them  I  spent  the  Sahhalh. 
In  tlie  evening  I  attended  the  Colored  ^letliocHst  Episcopal 
Church,  and  was  invited  to  address  tiie  large  meeting.  I 
spoke  half  an  hour,  an<l  toUl  the  history  of  Uncle  l*hili[), 
and  h(nv,  amidst  th(!  persecutions  and  sorrows  to  whicli  his 
slave-life  siihjected  him,  he  had  kept  his  hand  in  the  hand 
of  his  Savior  all  these  ninety-seven  years. 

AV^hile  speaking  (jf  his  being  whipj)ed  until  he  fainted, 
a  few  wept  aloud,  and  after  meeting  a  nund)er  came  to  tell 
mc  of  their  being  whipped  for  praying.  One  woman  was 
whip{)cd  until  she  fainted,  and  one  man  was  kept  in  the 
stocks  all  night  after  being  whijjped,  anil  eame  near  dying. 
His  master  told  him  he  "  would  whip  the  })raying  devil 
out  of  him,"  using  the  same  words  that  Vncle  rhili[)'s 
master  used  to  him. 

The  surgcon-in-chief,  Dr.  Reynolds,  wished  mo  to  re- 
main in  AVashingtou  another  day,  and  thought  (u^neral 
Howard  would  permit  mc  to  stay  then^  for  a  time,  to 
engage  in  sanitary  work.  I  had  an  interview  with  the 
general,  who  thought  I  was  most  needed  in  Washington, 
during  the  Winter  season  at  least.  He  gave  me  authority 
to  visit  the  free  soup-houses,  and  investigate  the  sanitary 
work  generally.  After  reading  my  commission,  I  told  him 
I  had  a  recpiest  to  make,  and  that  was  that  tlu;  authority 
with  which  I  was  vested,  might  be  kept  secret.  To  inves- 
tigate to  the  best  advantage  was  my  object.  I  was  also 
api)ointed  to  examine,  as  far  as  j>racticable,  the  condition  of 
ajiplicants  for  charity,  and  the  manner  in  which  the  charity 
was  applied.  ^ly  office  was  furnished,  and  hoard  was 
allowed  me  at  the  head-quarters  of  the  freedmcn's  hospital 
iu  Campbell  Camp. 


Hi 


4G2 


A  woman's  LIFE-WORF' 


-  Hi 


I  la 


I  '\i    ! 


1    I! 


On  Fchruaiy  Olh  I  called  at  Josopliine  Griffin's  relief 
office  before  10  o'clock  A.  M.  Between  sixty  and  seventy 
pers(»ns  called  on  her,  mostly  for  work.  1  followed  a  num- 
ber of  the  applicants  for  souji-tickets  to  their  homes.  In 
visiting  twenty  families  during  the  day,  I  found  a  uumber 
of  persons  in  squalid  wretchedness.  One  man  was  very 
sick  with  a  high  fever,  and  unconscious.  He  had  received 
no  help,  because  unable  to  make  i)crsonal  application,  and 
he  had  no  family  to  intercede  for  him.  His  bed  was  a  pile 
of  rags  in  the  corner  on  the  floor.  I  called  for  the  Bureau 
physician  and  saw  that  he  had  suitable  bed-clothing  and 
food.  The  physician  said  he  must  have  died  within  two 
or  three  days  in  that  condition.  Among  the  applicants  for 
relief  was  an  Irish  woman,  who  had  a  brick  house  she  was 
renting,  except  the  back  room,  which  she  occupied,  and  had 
another  nearly  finished.  She  and  her  family  for  whom  she 
"was  begging  soup,  lived  in  good  style. 

The  fourth  day  of  my  investigations  revealed  great  de- 
ficiency in  properly  looking  after  applicants  for  aid.  The 
greatest  sufix^rers  were  often  too  diffident  to  ask  for  help. 
The  soujvhouses  were  generally  well  managed.  I  called  as 
one  whom  curiosity  had  drawn  into  the  motley  crowd,  and 
■was  treated  to  a  taste  of  fine  soup,  even  at  the  "  Savage 
Soui>house,"  where  I  saw  two  caldrons  of  soup.  The  one 
from  which  I  was  served  might  well  tempt  the  palate  of 
an  epicure,  but  the  other  looked  too  forbidding  for  a 
human  stomach.  I  soon  found  the  good  soup  was  being 
given  to  the  white  applicants,  who  were  first  served,  while 
the  colored  people,  standing  in  the  yard,  were  waiting  their 
time.  Policeman  Tloss  told  a  shivering  colored  man  to  go 
inside  and  put  his  pail  on  the  fiirther  block  for  soup. 

"I  shall  bo  sent  out,"  he  replied. 

"I  tell  you  to  go  in,"  said  the  policeman ;  "I'll  see  to  that." 

He  obeyed  the  order,  only  to  receive  curses:  "You 
know  better  than  to  come  yet;  another  thing  you  know, 
this  soup  is  for  white  folks,  the  other  is  for  niggers." 


SOUr-HOUSES. 


4G:3 


4 


ffin's  relief 
md  seventy 
wod  a  luim- 
homes.     In 
(\  a  iuimber 
u  was  very 
lad  received 
lication,  and 
h\  was  a  pile 
r  tlie  Bureau 
clothing  and 
I  within  two 
ipplicants  for 
louse  she  was 
pied,  and  had 
for  whom  she 

lied  great  dc- 
for  aid.     The 
ask  for  help. 
I  called  as 
ly  crowd,  and 
the  "Savage 
up.     The  one 
the  palate  of 
)idding   for  a 
up  was  being 
served,  while 
waiting  their 
|cd  man  to  go 
■or  soup. 

I '11  see  to  that." 
uirscs;  "You 
ig  you  know, 
liggers." 


At  this,  Policeman  Ross  came  in:  "I  have  seen,"  siiid 
lie,  "fi.sh  made  of  ouo  and  flcsli  of  another  long  onoui;h. 
Here  arc  women  and  children  standing  out  on  the  ice  and 
snow,  waiting  nil  this  afternoon  for  you  to  serve  the  white 
people  first.  Another  thing  I  M  like  to  know,  why  is  thi.s 
differeace  in  the  soup?  That  hlr.ck  stuff  is  hardly  fit  for 
pigs  to  oat,  Mr.  Savage,  and  you  know  it." 

•'  Our  citizens  furnish  material  for  this  soup,"  replied 
he,  "  and  our  citizens  shall  have  it." 

'*  Doesn't  General  Howard  furnish  a  hundred  pounds 
of  heef  and  two  hundred  loaves  of  hrea  1  each  day  ?  and 
on  Saturday  it  k  douhle.  Another  thing  1  'd  like  to 
know:  are  tliese  not  our  citizens?"  pointing  toward  the 
yard  full  of  colored  people. 

"There  are  ten  thou.saud  too  many  of  'em,  and  it's  none 
of  your  business;  I  shall  do  as  I  please." 

"I  will  let  you  know ;  I  shall  make  it  my  business  to 
report  yon  to  General  Howard." 

Mr.  Savage  poured  out  a  horrid  volley  of  oaths  at  him, 
adding  that  all  his  reporting  would  make  no  difference 
"with  him.  One  Irish  woman  received  three  loaves  of 
bread,  four  quarts  of  soup,  and  a  large  piece  of  meat. 
After  nearly  all,  both  white  and  colored,  were  served,  the 
lieutenant  policcmau  left,  but  Mr.  Ross  remained  until  the 
end  of  the  disbursing.  I  was  tempted  to  cheer  the  policeman 
for  his  bravery,  but  thought  silence  the  better  part  of  valor. 

When  Aunt  Chloe's  "  cl'ariu'  up  time"  was  come,  I  took 
my  departure.  I  saw  the  i)oliccman  standing  near  the 
gate,  and  said  in  low  tone,  as  I  i)asscd  out,  "I  thank  you 
for  you'  words." 

"Stop;  do  you  live  here?"  he  said. 

"  Temporarily." 

"  Go  slowly  till  I  get  my  club,  so  I  can  catch  up.  I 
want  to  see  you." 

He  soon  overtook  me,  and  inquired  whether  I  was  one 
of  the  visiting  committee.     I  told  him  that  I  was  author- 


*>',.■  ■  ■ 


464 


.>.. 


A    WOMAN'S    I.IFK-WORK. 


i/,o(l  by  Oonoral  Howard  to  inspoot  tho  Rintip-hoiipos.  ITo 
asked  whether  I  was  ^oiiig  to  report  Sava,:^'e,  "  1  am  on 
my  way,"  I  said,  "  to  tho  ^'oiierars  ofKec  for  tliat  purpose*." 
*'  r  will  ^ive  you  my  name  and  luimher,"  he  replied,  "and 
will  run  to  see  the  lieutenant  of  })olicc,  who  will  ^ive  his 
name  and  nund)or  for  reference  also;  I'll  overtake  you  by 
the  lime  }ou  reaeli  Pennsylvania  Avenue."  And  oil'  he  ran. 
As  I  wished  to  inspect  the  poor  soup  more  thonMighly,  I 
called  at  a  cabin,  the  hime  of  the  poor  man  that  tho 
]iolioeman  coni[)clled  to  go  in  and  demand  the  good  souj). 
1  foimd  his  quart  tf  excuse  for  soup  ou  the  stove  to  cook 
the  Iwdf  raw  bits  of  turinps  and  potatoes.  I  tasted  of  what 
the  i)oli('eman  said  was  hardly  lit  for  pigs,  and  fully  agreed 
with  his  assertion,  for  the  man  said  it  made  them  sick  to  eat 
it  without  cooking  it  over.  This  man  had  been  sick  with 
l)neunionia,  and  his  mother  very  sick  with  it  at  this  time. 
I  hurried  to  the  nearest  grocery,  where  I  l)ought  crackers, 
sugar,  rice,  bread,  tea,  and  mustard  for  a  ])lasier  to  put  ou 
her  side.  The  man  had  received  only  a  slice  of  bread  with 
his  quart  of  soup,  for  the  seveu  reported  iu  his  i'aniily,  four 
of  whom  were  sick. 

When  I  reached  tlie  avenue,  I  met  the  policeman  who 
had  nearly  run  himself  out  of  breath.  He  was  delayed  iu 
lumting  for  the  lieutenant,  who  sent  word  that  he  would 
call  on  the  general  to  confirm  my  report  if  necessary,  and 
gave  his  name  and  number.  The  result  of  the  report  was, 
that  a  notice  was  sent  at  once  to  Mr.  Savage  that  there 
must  be  no  difference  in  giving  to  the  poor,  either  in  qual- 
ity or  quantity  at  his  soup-house,  and  that  the  difference 
made  between  white  and  colored,  as  reported  to  him,  could 
not  continue.  In  reply,  INIr.  Savage  denied  having  made 
any  difference  in  his  soup-house,  and  charged  the  reporter 
with  being  an  arrant  liar,  and  he  also  made  the  same  state- 
ment in  the  Dailij  Chronicle. 

1  wrote  a  confirmation  of  my  report,  using  his  own 
words  in  connection  with  the  remarks  of  policeman  Koss, 


uses.     Ho 
<'  I  nni  on 
:,  puvposo." 
\\vi\,  "aixl 
ill  {five  liirf 
ikc  you  by 
otr  ho  ran. 
)!•( (Uglily,  I 
.u  that  the 
good  soup, 
ovc  to  cook 
led  of  what 
fully  agiTC'd 
n  sick  to  eat 
n  sick  with 
it  this  time. 
:ht  crackers, 
er  to  put  oil 
■  bread  with 
family,  four 

iceman  who 
s  delayed  in 
lat  he  would 
Icessary,  and 
report  was, 
that  there 
her  in  (pial- 
|ie  dilference 
)  him,  could 
laviug  nuidc 
the  reporter 
same  state- 

Ing  his  own 
;eraan  Koss, 


ar'.ORflK   SAVAGE. 


465 


and  took  it  to  Dr.  Reyburn,  surgcon-in-chicf  in  the  sani- 
tary work.  The  doctor  aj)proved  my  statenu-nt,  and  wrote 
a  few  lines  of  prefiico  hirnst'lf.  As  1  us<'d  Mr.  Koss'.s 
name,  I  called  on  him,  who  also  approved,  and  referred  to 
the  lieutenant  of  police,  who  was  j)resent,  and  both  sanc- 
tioned my  report.     This  was  published  in  the  Chronicle. 

At  this  kSuvage  raved,  and  swore  he  would  arrest  mo 
for  (lelamation.  Neither  did  the  policeman  whose  name  I 
used  as  reference  go  unscathed.  The  chief  of  the  police 
force  rc(|nested  3fr.  lioss  to  see  mo  and  learn  by  what  au- 
thority I  was  acting,  as  there  seemed  to  l)e  none  indicati'd 
in  my  article  in  the  Chronicle.  Mr.  Koss  said  the  chief  of 
police  (lid  not  doubt  my  authority,  but  would  like  to  know, 
if  I  had  no  objection.  I  presented  my  pa})er,  with  a  re- 
quest that  the  matter  should  be  held  as  confidential,  as  I 
did  not  wish  to  make  it  public. 

After  reading  the  paper  he  said  :  "  I  think  you  are 
authorized  to  inspect  the  work  of  the  whole  of  us;  I  see 
in  this  the  whole  field  is  included.  Would  you  objV'et  to  my 
taking  this  to  the  chief  of  police,  if  I  bring  it  back  within 
an  hour  or  two?  We  may  in  some  cases  render  you 
assistance." 

I  had  no  objection,  and  he  took  it.  I  found  their  as- 
sistance in  a  few  cases  very  important,  as  well  as  conven- 
ient. But  with  all  the  Savage  threats,  nothing  was  done, 
and  not  even  a  reference  was  made  to  the  subject  in  either 
of  the  papers.  Surgeon  Reyburn  told  mo,  as  he  was  pass- 
ing a  corner  where  a  group  of  secessionists  were  discussing 
the  subject  quite  freely,  that  one  man  said,  "Why  don't 
Savage  do  something  about  that  sonj)-hoiise  affair,  and  not 
be  a  numb-head,  and  let  that  woman  wind  him  around  her 
finger  like  that?"  Another  said,  "If  I'd  lied  once  over 
that  old  soup-house,  I'd  lie  again,  before  I'd  hold  still  and 
take  all  that."  He  changed  his  soup-house  policy  f  )r  a 
little  while ;  but  the  comj)laints  among  secession  friends 
and  white  customers  caused  him  soon  afterward  to  backslide. 


i  '■:■?: 


'Hi.  ^ 

lil'    ;: 

'hi  ,f 


;■'  \ 


!«:'    f 


:''^ 


M  * 


^ 


:f^ '  -I 


; '  .( 


I  (  ««    1    , 


% 


'  I' 
I' 


i  lii 


4f;r, 


A    W()^rAN'H   MFK-WORK. 


Mr.  Carpontor,  trcasuivr  of  the  IVovnlcnt  Aid  Rorioty, 
^vrotc  u  letter  to  (ieor^re  Savjip^  tliiil  \w  thought  might 
improve  liim.  IJiit  Siirgi'oii  lii-yhiini  neJit  lor  me,  tiiul 
re(|ue.stc(l  me  to  jji'epare  I'or  rumiing  the  Foiiilli  Ward 
soui)-houso,  as  he  iiad  heard  they  were  going  to  (hscharge 
(Jeorge  Hjivuge.  I  caUed  on  Mr.  Rhephcird,  the  jjroper 
authority  to  di.sehargc  liim.  lie  said  that  in  a  week  or 
two  ail  the  Konp-honse.s  would  close  for  the  season,  and,  as 
Savage  had  receiveil  letters  that  Ik;  thought  he  would  im- 
])rove  hy,  ho  would  release  me  from  the  task  of  running 
tlie  youp-house.  I  therefore  continued  v'siling  and  reliev- 
ing the  sick  and  suflcring. 

I  met  in  my  rounds  Dr.  Cook,  who  said  there  was  a 
child  frozen  to  death  in  Kendal  Green  Barracks,  nearly 
two  miles  awav.  Neither  the  doctor  nor  mv.self  knew  \vh() 
had  charge  there.  I  went,  and  found  a  child  of  ten  .nonths 
old  that  had  chilled  to  death.  The  mother  said  hers  was 
the  fourth  ciiild  in  that  row  of  cabins  that  hud  died  ;  and 
that  none  of  them  were  allowed  more  than  two  four-foot 
sticks  of  fire-wood  for  twenty-four  hours.  I  called  at  the 
other  cabins,  and  found  them  without  fire,  and  all  told  the 
same  story  of  lack  of  wood  and  no  coal.  There  was  neither 
bedding  nor  clothing  enough  among  them  all  to  make  a  sin- 
gle family  comfortable.  The  mother  of  the  dead  child  had 
been  to  see  the  superintendent  of  the  poor  of  the  city  to 
get  a  coffin.  With  shoes  but  little  better  than  none,  she 
had  waded  through  melting  snow  until  her  dress  was  wet 
four  inches,  at  least,  around  the  bottom.  I  inquired  who 
the  superintendent  of  this  camj)  and  barracks  was,  and 
they  said,  jNIajor  Thompson.  I  went  to  his  head-quarters, 
but  found  that  he  and  his  family  had  gone  to  the  Capital 
to  learn  how  President  Johnson's  impeachment  trial  was 
likely  to  end.  I  repaired  to  General  C.  IT.  Howard's 
oflice,  and  reported  the  condition  of  these  families.  lie 
gent  me  back  in  his  ambulance,  with  fifty  loaves  of  bread, 
a  coffin   for   the   dead   child,  and  two  quilts   and  a  few 


MA  JO".  TOWXSF.ND. 


4G7 


u\  Society, 
i.riit  uiitrht 
,r  inr,  unil 
Lirlli  Ward 
()  <lk'lii\rg« 
the  proper 

a  week  or 
m\,  und,  lis 
3  Avould  iiu- 
.  of  running 

and  reliev- 

tliere  was  a 
neks,  nearly 
■If  knew  wlu) 
f  ten  months 
aid  hers  was 
lid  died ;  and 
two  tour-loot 
called  at  the 
d  all  told  the 
e  was  neither 
()  make  a  sin- 
sad  child  had 
if  the  city  to 
lan  none,  she 
ilress  was  Avet 
iniiuired  who 
;ks  was,  and 
licad-quarters, 
[o  the  Capital 
icnt  trial  was 
II.  Howard's 
limilics.     He 
.ves  of  bread, 
,s  and  a  few 


blankets  for  the  destitute,  with  instructions  to  pivc  the 
bnad,  except  one  loaf  to  each  of  the  tour  faniilies  I  luul 
visited,  to  ^bijor  Townsend,  a  man  that  1  had  met  in  the 
Sahhath -school  he  superintended.  lie  was  surprised  to 
find  tho.'^it  families  under  his  care  in  such  a  condition.  The 
jreneral  furthernn)re  rccpiested  me  to  niake  a  thorough  in- 
vesti^^ation  of  Kendal  CJreen  Barracks  and  camp. 

The  fnllowint^  day  I  visited  forty  fiiniilies,  and  found 
twelve  sick,  and  not  sufllcii'nlly  .«upi)lie(l.  I  listened  to 
many  sad  stories  by  a  white  man,  who  had  been  one  of 
]\Iaji>r  Townsend's  police  ^niards  while  he  had  charp'  of 
Campbell  Camp,  before  1  went  to  Washinj^ton.  1  was  in- 
ibrmed  that  the  major  had  charged  his  two  police  jj^uanls 
to  brin;;  th<!  wonum  that  was  interferinu;  with  his  camp  to 
Ins  ofllee  till  he  returned,  if  she  should  come  again  in  his 
absence.  AlthoULdi  they  were  (piite  cross,  they  did  not 
tak(!  me  to  the  major's  head-(iuarters,  as  I  told  them  I  was 
calling  by  request.  The  major  had  no  more  idea  of  who 
the  intruder  was  thati  I  knew  who  lh(>  superintendent  was 
until  I  made  my  report  to  the  general,  when  he  informed 
me  that  it  was  not  Thompson,  but  Major  Townsend,  to 
^vhom  I  had  been  introduced  in  a  colored  Sabbath-sehool. 
But  as  he  knew  by  the  supplies  which  I  took  to  the  fiimilies 
that  they  came  from  head-(piarters,  he  called  on  (Jeneral 
Howard,  and  from  him  learned  who  the  inspector  was,  and 
he  told  the  general  he  would  aid  me  in  calling  on  the  poor 
who  needed  aid.  While  he  spent  most  of  the  day  in  call- 
ing at  my  office  and  going  to  see  the  general,  I  was  visit- 
ing the  barracks. 

For  sundry  misdemeanors  while  in  office  the  major  was 
relieved,  and  another  appointed  in  his  stead.  Though  I 
did  not  think  he  was  the  right  man  for  the  i)laco,  ypt  I  felt 
Borrv  for  his  excellent  family.  His  wife  and  two  vountj 
lady  daughters  I  had  calKnl  on,  and  was  much  pleased  with 
their  self-sacrificing  Christian  spirit. 

There  was  much  excitement  in  Washington  during  u 


408 


»^' 


A    M'O^fAX  S    J-IFE-WORIC. 


1:1  I- 


1 

t        ^'1 

;  11  ^ 

killl 

portion  of  ^lay,  on  account  of  the  inipeaclinicnt  and  trial 
of  President  Johnson.  At  length,  on  the  KUh  of  the 
month,  the  news  spread  that  lie  ua.s  acquitted  of  the 
high  charges  made  against  him  hy  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives, and  that  his  power  ^vas  left  uncurtailed.  But  he 
had  turned  his  ])ack  upon  our  brave  soldiers,  who  hied  and 
died  to  save  the  nation's  life,  and  made  no  serious  ctTort 
to  put  an  end  to  the  Kuklux  outrages  in  the  Southern 
States.  For  this  reason  many  demanded  that  he  be  re- 
moved from  his  olHce.  With  them  his  acquittal  foreboded 
ill ;   but  Ave  ho])cd  for  the  best. 

Uncle  Dodson,  aged  sixty- five  years,  a  })lantatiou 
preacher  and  a  resident  of  Canq)l)ell  Camp,  caused  great 
excitement  when  he  i'ound  his  louixdost  wife  and  she  i'ound 
her  long-lost  husband.  Twenty  years  before  the  husband 
and  wife  were  torn  apart  l)y  the  unrelenting  slave-master. 
A\\!e])ing  and  begging  to  l)c  sold  together,  Avhile  kneeling 
at  the  master's  feet,  they  were  only  answered  by  a  kick 
and  the  lash.  Now  they  met  again.  In  the  front  yard 
the  wife  came  riuniing  to  him  crving  out,  "O  Ben  Dod- 
son,  is  dis  you?  I  am  your  own  Betty."  And  she  clasped 
hini  closely.  "Crlory!  glory!  hallalujah !  Dis  is  my 
]jetty,  sliuah,"  he  said,  pushing  her  away  to  look  at  her 
face.  "I  foun'  you  at  las'.  I's  hunted  an'  hunted  till  I 
track  you  up  here.  I's  bouu'  to  hunt  till  I  fin'  you  if  you 's 
alive."  And  they  both  wept  tears  of  joy.  "Ah,  Betty, 
we  cried  harder 'n  dis  when  da  sole  us  apart  down  dar  in 
Egyp'."  And  anotlier  outburst  of  joy  fi)llowed.  They 
were  soon  happily  living  together  in  their  own  little  cabin. 

The  old  man  had  some  (pieer  Scri[)ture  (piotations.  One 
he  recited  in  meeting  twi  e  before  I  had  an  opportunity  of 
cornH'ting  hini,  and  that  was,  "A<lam  called  his  wife's 
name  Eve  because  she  was  the  mother  of  all  evil."  As 
Uncle  Dodson  often  wished  me  to  read  a  chapter  in  their 
cha[)el  meetings  "an'  'splain  it  to  us,"  I  took  occasion  to 
read    the    third    chapter   of  Genesis,   and   when   I   read, 


FATIIKPw   DODSOX. 


409 


and  trial 

th   of  tho 
['(I  of  the 
opreacMita- 
,     But  he 
)  hied  and 
ious  effort 
Southern 
he  be  re- 
foreboded 

])hintation 

vxd  irreat 

;«lie  ibund 

c  husband 

ve-nmster. 

[)  kncchng 

by  a  kiek 

ront  yard 

Ben  bod- 

le  chisped 

is    i:<    my 

)k  at  her 

ted  till  I 

u  if  you 'a 

1,  Betty, 

n  dar  in 

.      They 

le  cabin. 

ns.    One 

unity  of 

is   wife's 

il."     As 

in  their 

asion  to 

I   read, 


"Beeause  she  Avas  the  mother  of  all  living,"  he  called  out 
"ebil,  ebil,  sistah  ILib'lin."  Uncle  Dodsou  was  learning 
to  read,  and  could  n.'ad  easy  words  in  the  first  reader.  I 
]>lac((l  the  Bible  before  him  and  jiointed  to  the  wonl 
'"living."  "Dat  is  so  in  dis  place,"  he  acknowledged, 
"but  it's  some  place  in  de  Bible."  "  Fatlier  Dodsim,"  I 
said,  "I  have  read  every  word  in  this  Bible  a  number  of 
times,  and  there  is  no  such  sentence  between  the  two  lids 
that  Adam  called  his  wife's  name  Eve  because  she  was  the 
mother  of  all  evil,"  and  a  smile  ran  through  the  entire 
congregation.  I  added  that  it  was  not  a  wonder  that  these 
jvtor  ])eople  should  misfjuote  Sci'ipture,  as  a  few  years  ago 
many  of  them  were  not  allowed  to  learn  to  read.  At  tiiis 
three  of  that  company  testified  to  ix'iiig  puni>hed  severely 
for  If'arning  their  letters  of  a  little  white  boy.  I  told  them 
it  was  a  greater  wonder  that  they  liad  })assed  through 
such  ])rivations  and  retained  as  nnich  intelligence  as  they 
possessed.  "O  yes,  well  do  I  'mend)er  when  I  was  j)Uiiish' 
tdo,"  said  another,  "for  tryin'  to  learn  to  read."  Turning 
to  a  young  cxhorter  sitting  by  him,  Uiicle  Dodsou  sai<l, 
"Brodder  Davis,  I've  labored  in  de  (r()s|)el  mor 'n  forty 
yetu's  wid  de  white  ministers  and  wid  de  black  ministers, 
an'  I  neber  fi)nn'  one  so  doop  in  de  S('rii)tur'  as  sistah  Ilab- 
'hn."     A\'e  continued  our  exercises  with  good  satisfaction. 

Another  of  Father  Dodsoji's  comfi)rting  ])assages  was, 
"  Blessed  is  the  corpse  that  the  rain  falls  on."  If  the  de- 
])arted  one  had  left  no  other  evidence  of  being  prepared 
for  the  great  change,  then  a  i:;in  on  llu'  day  of  tlu  funeral 
was  sufficient.  I  found  this  was  (piite  generally  accepted 
as  a  sure  evidence  with  many  of  them. 

As  I  was  passing  through  the  hospital  yard  a  lunnber 
of  the  convalesc(Mits  were  in  a  grouji  discussing  the  subjeei 
of  charity,  thinking  that  some  one  had  been  too  harshly 
judged.  Said  one  man,  "Paul  said  faith,  hope,  and 
charity.  An'  de  greates'  of  'em  all  was  char'ty.  An'  I 
knows  what  a  bigger  man  nur  Paul  said,  better  man  too." 


M'-i' 


■1/     •!  . 


>;:, 


!l 


t 


I  i 


470 


»'' 


A   WOMAN'S   LIFE-WORK. 


"An'  who  dat,  an'  wliat  he  say?"  rejoined  another. 

"lie  .say,  'Judge  not  an'  yc  shan't  be  judged.'" 

"An'  Avho  said  dat?" 

"'Twas  Gcorue  Waslilniifton." 

On  inquiry  I  found  his  parents  lived  many  years  in 
the  vicinity  of  Mount  Vernon,  and  j)robably  tlie  colored 
people  heard  George  Washington  repeat  that  text,  and  it 
was  handed  down  among  them  as  an  original  saying  of 
the  Father  of  his  Country,  in  their  minds  a  greater  and 
better  man  than  Paul. 

Wliilc  engaged  in  my  work,  as  the  weather  became 
very  warm,  I  often  rested  an  hour  or  two  in  the  ca[)itol  to 
listen  to  the  many  witnesses  who  testified  to  the  awful 
condition  of  our  soldiers  at  Anderson ville  Prison,  under 
Henry  Wirtz.  At  the  statement  made  concerning  his  stab- 
bin"  and  shooting  the  soldiers  for  leaning  airainst  the  "dead 
line,"  the  guilty  man,  Wirtz,  shook  as  he  arose  from  the 
sofa  upon  wliich  he  was  reclining,  and  swore  "that  was  a 
lie;"  but  General  Auger,  the  president  of  the  court,  told 
him  that  he  had  nothing  to  say,  and  bade  him  sit  down, 
which  he  did  with  cursing  in  great  excitement.  I  some- 
times spent  two  or  three  hours  in  listening  to  the  tale  of 
the  heartless  cruelties  that  unpriucli)led  wretch  had  com- 
mitted. One  woman,  whose  son  died  in  that  prison,  was 
listening  one  afternoon.  She  stood  in  tlie  corridor,  and  as 
he  passed  with  his  guards  for  the  ambuhmce,  which  was 
to  bear  him  back  to  the  prison,  she  foHowed  with  her  best 
weapon,  a  Inrge  umbrella.  This  she  nind^ly  used,  thrust- 
ing the  pointed  end  into  his  side  or  back,  or  wherever  she 
could  hit  him,  saying,  "You  rascal,  you  villain,  you  mur- 
derer, you  murdered  my  son  in  Andersonville."  Her 
thrusts  were  in  such  quick  succession  that  he  begged  the 
guards  to  protect  him;  but  they  did  not  interfere  with  the 
bereaved  wonuin  until  they  got  the  prisoner  into  the 
and)ulance. 

While  I  did  not  feel  like  following  her  example  because 


thcr. 


years  m 
}  colored 
t,  and  it 
lying  of 
ater  and 

became 
'a|)itol  to 
he  awful 
n,  under 
his  stab- 
ile "dead 
from  the 
at  was  a 
urt,  told 
it  down, 
I  some- 
tale  of 
ad  com- 
on,  was 
and  as 
Ich  Avas 
ler  ]iest 
thrust- 
3ver  she 
ou  mur- 
Iler 
ired  the 
vith  the 
nto   the 

because 


ASYLUM   CLOSED. 


471 


of  his  murdering  my  cousin,  yet  I  told  General  Auger 
that  it  was  well  for  Henry  Wirtz  that  his  case  was  not 
tried  by  mothers  and  sisters  of  the  thousands  who  had 
suffered  and  died  under  his  cruelties.  Said  the  general,  "  I 
do  not  know  but  it  would  be  tiie  best  thing  for  him  if 
mothers  and  sisters  were  his  judges."  But  if  they  were 
the  ones  to  give  the  decision,  Judicc  and  mercij  would  never 
kiss  each  other  over  him.  I  never  was  an  advocate  of 
caj)ital  punishment,  but  I  must  acknowledge  I  did  led 
at  times,  while  listening  to  Henry  Wirtz's  trial,  that  I 
would  like  to  see  that  tiger  in  human  form  take  a  lunnp 
swi)i(j.  But  when  at  last  he  received  his  sentence  and 
swore  he  "always  thought  the  American  Eagle  was  a  d — 
buzzard,"  I  had  no  desire  to  mingle  witli  the  multitude  to 
witness  the  execution,  though  he  well  deserved  the  exe- 
cration of  all. 


On  ]Mav  14th  I  received  a  note  from   ^Irs.  Edtrerlf 


>n, 


stating  that  a  peremptory  order  from  Rev.  J.  R.  8hi})herd, 
secretary  of  the  American  Missionary  Association  at  C'hicago, 
had  been  received,  to  close  the  asvlum  immediatelv.  From 
her  note  I  learned  that  this  was  the  day  for  the  auction  sale 
of  the  asylum  personal  property.  I  was  confident  that 
forty  or  fifty  little  tolks  could  not  at  once  be  properlv  sit- 
uated in  compliance  with  such  an  order,  and  wrot(-  J.  R. 
Shi})herd  a  propo.^ition,  reminding  him  of  his  verbal  pledge 
and  proposed  terms  ou  which  we  could  reopen  t\w  asylum 
for  all  for  whom  no  suitalile  homes  midit  be  found.  I 
also  wrote  an  appeal  to  Rev.  Ge(\  Wiiipple,  of  the  New 
York  Division,  and  sent  with  it  a  copy  of  the  propositi^. n 
1  liad  made  to  J.  R.  Shiplierd.  I  received  in  n^ply  a  re- 
quest to  remit  to  tliat  division  the  rei)ly  \  should  receive 
from  J.  R.  Shiplierd,  or  a  copy,  by  the  first  mail,  for  they 
thought  my  proposition  would  be  accejited.  I  wrote  them 
they  should  have  whafi'viT  reply  I  might  receivi-  from  .F. 
R.  Shiplierd,  but  I  did  not  look  for  any  word  whatever 
from   him.     In  the  mean  time   I  received  a  letter  from 


472 


A  woman's  life-work. 


>A 


i  5|- 


Adrian  informing  me  that  four  of  the  little  children  were 
already  in  the  county  poor-house,  and  that  others  would 
soon  be  taken  tliere;  that  four  of  the  younj^er  ones  were 
left  in  the  streets  of  Adrian  to  find  their  own  homes  among 
colored  people,  and  that  four  were  left  with  a  p(jor  colored 
family  who  were  promised  pay  for  keei)ing  them  until  other 
homes  could  be  found.  Four  more  were  also  left  with  a 
white  family  in  Palmyra,  with  the  promise  of  pay  until 
other  arrangements  were  made.  One  little  girl  of  ten 
years  was  left  with  a  woman  of  ill-tiimc  and  of  driukinj^ 
habits,  and  the  little  girl  had  been  seen  drunk. 

I  wrote  to  Kev.  E.  M.  Cravath,  secretary  of  the  Middle 
Division,  at  Cincinnati,  and  to  Levi  Coffin,  and  learned 
in  reply  that  eight  of  the  little  children  were  found  one 
morning  sitting  on  the  stone  ste})s  of  the  office  of  the 
American  Missionary  Association,  with  a  uot3  in  the  hand 
of  the  oldest,  aged  ten  or  eleven  years,  the  purport  of 
which  was,  "These  children  were  sent  by  you  to  the  asy- 
lum near  Adrian,  Michigan.  It  has  closed.  You  must 
take  care  of  them."  They  said  that  JNIrs.  Edgerton  brought 
them  from  the  asylum,  and  sent  Ihem  here  in  the  express 
wagon.  The  office  being  locked,  the  driver  left  them  on 
the  steps  at  6  o'clock  A.  ^I.  As  they  had  eaten  nothing 
during  the  night,  Levi  Coflhi  furnished  them  with  food, 
while  Kev.  II  ]\I.  Ci'avath  went  to  the  colored  or})han  asy- 
lum of  the  city,  and  made  arrangements  by  paying  the 
board  of  managers  one  hundred  dollars  for  their  admit- 
tiince.  The  letter  from  licvi  Coffin  contained  the  follow- 
ing queries:  "  AVhat  ails  Michigan,  that  she  can  not  care 
for  thirty  or  forty  of  these  poor  little  homeless  or])hans, 
when  we  have;  had  a  few  thousands  to  look  after  in  this 
great  thoroughfare?  Where  is  the  Christianity  and  i)hi- 
lanthropy  of  your  great  State,  to  send  these  children  back 
to  us,  who  took  then  from  those  crowded  camps,  where 
there  was  so  much  suffering  and  dying,  for  the  purpo.se  of 
their  being  properly  trained,  and  fitted  for  usefulness,  amid 


RETTRX    IIOMF. 


473 


en  were 
s  would 
les  were 
s  among 

colored 
til  other 
:  with  a 
iiy  until 

of  ten 
Iriukiii;^ 

;  Middle 

letirned 

iiud   one 

i  of   the 

he  hand 

I'port   of 

the  asy- 

)\i   nuiJ^t 

broucrht 

exprefss 

liom  on 

nothing 

h  food, 

mn  asy- 

ling  the 

adniit- 

follow- 

ot  oare 

•phans, 

in  this 

id  ])hi- 

n  hack 

where 

"»ose  of 

,  amid 


humane  surroundings?"  Thcv  soon  found  the  whys  and 
wherefores  in  my  letter  and  a])peal  to  allow  tlie  asylum  to 
be  reopened. 

After  writing  a  number  of  letters  to  the  New  York 
Division,  containing  a  full  account  of  tlu^  condition  of  the 
children,  and  sending  them  a  copy  of  the  letter  i'rom 
Adrian,  I  inquired  whether  as  a  Christian  body  they 
could  allow  these  children  over  whom  they  had  assumed 
control,  and  for  whom  they  wen.'  resj)onsible,  to  be  turne(l 
out  into  the  streets,  to  be  lodged  in  the  county  poor-house, 
and  to  be  left  in  the  house  of  ill-fame,  and  a]t]>ealed  to 
them  as  Christian  men  to  make  some  suitable  arrangements 
for  them.  Their  reply  was:  "We  can  not  aflord  to  allow 
this  condition  <jf  those  children.  We  have  not  received  a 
commuuicati(jn  in  this  othce  that  has  jiroduced  the  deep 
feeling  that  your  last  letter  lias.  We  have  telegrai)lied 
]\Ir.  Sliipherd  to  dispose  of  nothing  more  connecte(l  with 
that  asylum.  TIow  Lmg  would  it  be  before  it  could  be  re- 
opened, should  we  r(-])lace  it  in  the  hands  of  its  friend?" 
1  answered,  "  It  shall  be  re-opened  as  soon  as  I  n  ceivc! 
otlicial  authority  from  your  association  to  do  it,  and  I  Avill 
resign  my  position  in  this  work."  In  rcj»ly  to  this,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Smith,  a  mend)er  of  the  New  York  Division, 
came  to  Washington  atid  authorized  me  to  secure  a  part 
of  tiie  asylum  ])uii<ling,  and  reopen  it  for  the  children  that 
were  in  im})roper  houses.  I  secured  a  j>ass  l)y  wsiy  of  Cin- 
cinnati, in  accordance  with  the  rcfpiest  of  Levi  Collin  and 
Key.  E.  M.  Cravath,  of  the  Middle  Division.     Thev  had 


1 


(1  homes  f)r  two  of  the  children.      I   to.»k   th 


secured  goo( 
others  home. 

Tlie  secretaries  and  a  few  other  members  of  the  tliree 
divisions  met  in  Oberlin  to  consider  furtlier  concerning  the 
asylum  that  had  been  so  unwisely  closed.  At  the  close 
of  this  cotisultation  I  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  ^^'hipple, 
of  New  York,  in  whicli  he  stated  that  there  was  much 
sympathy  e.\{)ressed  for  me  in  behalf  of  the  asylum  by  all 

40 


iil' 
!■  - ' 
li ; 
1". 


I*' 
I  i 

11 


474 


A    woman's   lilFK-WOHK. 


except  Mr.  Sliipherd,  who  said  he  bad  dono  nothing  of 
wliich  I  or  iiiiy  one  vhv.  had  auy  right  to  coinphuii.  lie 
was  onU-red  to  I'eturu  twt'uty-thrco  boxes  and  packages  of 
asyhnn  goods  to  me,  us  J  was  acting  under  their  onlers  in 
re(>i)ening  tl»e  home;  and  they  sent  me  fifty  dollars  for 
sn})plies.  I  gathered  in  hetweeu  twenty-five  and  thirty 
children  that  liad  previously  belonged  to  the  liome,  and 
l»ought  l)ack  what  fm-niture  I  couhl  that  had  been  sold  at 
a  great  sacrifice.  The  corporation  appointed  me  general 
su])erintendent  of  the  asylum,  and  engaged  me  to  devote 
my  whole  time  to  it. 

Although  to  provide  means  to  carry  it  on  was  no  small 
task,  yet  the  burden  to  mo  seemed  light  compared  with  its 
importance.  It  had  cost  great  anxiety  and  eff()rt  to  ac- 
com})lish  what  we  had  already  done.  I  secured  a  horse, 
re})aired  the  buggy,  and  em{»loycd  our  soldier,  Charlie 
Taft,  whose  health  was  much  impaired  from  service  in  the 
army.  He  offered  to  spend  the  Winter  witii  us,  and  ren- 
der what  assistance  he  could,  for  his  board.  Just  now 
our  prosjiects  W(>re  l)righter  than  at  any  j)eriod  since  liaisin 
Institute  was  converted  into  a  home  for  harmh'ss  little 
])cople,  to  train  for  useful  citizens,  instead  of  tramps,  or 
inmates  of  prisons. 

But,  alas!  we  were  doomed  to  a  heavy  draft  upon  our 
ftiith.  After  a  very  busy  day  of  measuring,  cutting,  and 
fitting  garments  for  tlu^  litth;  ones,  I  went  in  haste  to  place 
a  bundle  of  patches  in  the  box  in  the  hall  room.  It  was 
now  dark  twilight,  and  I  mistook  the  cellar  door  for  that 
of  the  hall.  Passing  through,  I  fell  headlong  seven  feet 
against  the  corner  of  a  hard-wood  beam.  I  received  many 
bruises,  and  the  concussion  fractured  both  the  inner  and 
outer  layers  of  the  left  temporal  bone,  and  severed  the 
tcMuporal  artery.  I  was  taken  up  insensible,  and  it  was 
suppt)sed  that  life  was  extinct;  Init  in  a  few  moments 
signs  of  life  appeared,  and  a  physician  was  immediately 
sent  for.     (Ireat  consternation  prevailed  among  the  chil- 


;  7 


RFATRE    IN.irRY 


47/ 


)thing  of 
ain.     He 

_'kj»gCr5  of 

onlers  in 
oUars  for 
[ul  thirty 
oinc,  and 
111  sold  lit 
c  gcncnil 
to  devote 

s  IK)  small 

(1  with  its 

i)rt  to  ac- 

1  a  horse, 

',  Cliarlie 

'ice  iu  the 

,  and  reii- 

Jiist  now 

u'o  Ivuif^iii 

less   httle 

ramps,  or 

upon  our 

.ling,  and 

L>.  to  place 

It  was 

for  that 

Icvcn  foct 

:od  many 

Inner  and 

rorod  the 

Id   it  v,as 

niomcnts 

[ncdiatcly 

It  he  chil- 


dren, and  much  sympathy  was  cx{)rcsscd,  as  well  us  many 
prayers  oilered  by  them  iu  my  Ijchalf. 

Brotiier  Smart,  j)astur  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
iu  Adrian,  was  then  holding  a  series  of  nujctings;  and  be- 
ing told  of  the  accident  at  the  evening  meeting,  he  said : 
"  Elder  Jacokes  informs  me  that  sister  Jlavilaud  is  sup- 
posed to  be  in  a  dying  state  from  a  dangerous  lall  in  the 
or])han  asylum  this  evening.  I  propose  to  pursue  my  sub- 
ject no  further,  but  to  turn  this  meeting  into  a  season  of 
prayer  for  her  restoration,  if  in  accordance  with  the  Lord's 
will;  if  not,  that  her  mantle  may  ItiU  upon  anolh-r,  to 
carry  forward  that  ent(;rprise.  The  Lord  can  hoar  and 
answer  here  as  readily  as  by  her  bedside."  lit;  then  led  in 
fervent  sup])lication,  followed  by  a  lew  others.  Said  a 
friend  pres(>nt:  "The  announcement  fell  upon  us  like  an 
electric  shock,  and  I  lu.'ver  heard  brother  Smart,  or  those 
"who  followed,  pray  witli  such  power.  Then  brother  Bird 
arose  and  said,  '  I  feel  confident  that  we  shall  have  an 
answer  to  our  prayers,  that  sister  Ilaviland  will  be  re- 
stored or  another  take  her  iJace.'" 

iNIy  dear  sistiM*  in  C1n-ist,  EHzabcth  L.  Comstock,  was  at 
that  time  lal)oring  in  the  Master's  vineyard  in  Chicago. 
Hearing  of  the  accident  by  means  of  the  telegram  sent  to 
my  daughter  residing  iu  that  city,  slie  mentioned  it  at  the 
Moody  noon  prayer-meeting,  and  recpicstiMl  prayer  for  my 
restoration,  if  it  were  the  Lord's  will,  I  was  ma<lc  the 
sid)ject  of  prayer  also  at  Pittsford  Wesleyan  Methodist 
protracted  meeting. 

A  letter  came  from  I\ev.  E.  M.  Cravath,  of  C'ineinnati, 
addressed  to  me.  In  answer,  my  daugiiler,  L.  rl.  Ihow- 
nell,  wrote  that  "mother  is  unconscious  I'rom  a  dangerous 
fall,  and  we  (her  children)  are  earnestly  praying  for  her 
restoration.  If  oiu'  IIeav(Mily  Eather  sees  meet  to  grant 
our  petition,  you  will  receive  a  reply  from  her  wlu'ii  pi-ae- 
ticable."  T\w  immediate  reply  was:  "You  ma\  rest  as- 
sur(d  our  All-wise  Eatiier  will  restori'  voiir  luotlier  if  he 


I 


i.-;,; 


a  -i 


b 


-in 

,  1 

,   . 

1  • 

;     i    ] 

1  i  ; 

: 

1^ 

'^    '       ,h 

■  i       "      1 

''^B 

S  "i  i'  ■■   ^ 

ilk! 

47G 


A    WOMAN  S    LIFR-WOUIv. 


has  furthor  work  for  her  to  do.  You  may  also  he  assiin^l 
that  lier  IVionds  iu  this  city  are  uniting  in  ])rMyor  with  licr 
children  lor  lior  recovery." 

I  was  so  nt^arly  conscious  at  one  time  that  I  heard  some 
one  say,  "She  will  never  speak  again."  The  thought  struck 
me  forcihly  that  I  was  going  to  get  well,  and  yet  I  had  no 
sense  of  being  ill.  But  I  reflected  that  my  children  must  bo 
very  sad  at  the  thouglit  of  giving  mo  up,  and  I  would  try 
to  say,  "I  am  going  to  get  well."  With  all  the  eflort  I 
could  command  I  could  not  utter  a  syllable.  Then  I  tried 
to  SCO  if  my  children  were  present;  but  I  seemed  to  be  in 
a  pure,  soft,  -wliite  cloud,  such  as  we  sometimes  sec  floating 
in  the  ethert-;il  blue,  where  I  could  discover  no  countenance 
of  those  moving  around  my  bed.  Consequently  I  gave 
over  the  eflbrt,  and  was  again  lost  to  all  consciousness  until 
three  days  and  nights  had  passed.  Then  the  first  returning 
consciousness  was  the  passing  away  of  that  beautiful  white 
cloud,  aiid  I  recognized  my  three  daughters  standing  before 
me.  One  of  thcra  said,  "^lother  looks  as  if  she  know 
us."  Why,  yes,  I  thought,  they  are  my  daughters ;  but 
what  are  their  names?  and  what  is  my  name?  Then  I 
sin-veyed  the  room.  The  papered  wall,  maps,  pictures,  and 
furniture  all  looked  familiar;  but  where  am  I?  Am  I  in 
some  large  city,  or  ii\  a  country  place?  I  am  advanced  in 
years;  and  what  have  I  done  iu  all  my  life?  But  I  could 
recall  nothint:. 

While  in  this  mental  stdiloquy,  it  came  to  me  what  my 
name  was,  and  that  this  was  the  orphan  asylum. 

"Do  you  know  me,  mother?"  said  my  daughter  Jane. 

It  was  a  matter  of  reflection  before  I  could  utter  the 
word  "yes,"  and  then  a  studv  to  ixive  her  name.  At  lenL''tli 
I  pnmounced  it.  Another  daughter  made  the  same  query, 
and  I  had  the  answer,  "yes,"  ready,  but  it  seemed  a  hard 
studv  asrain  to  recollect  the  name  Mira.  The  same  effort 
brought  to  my  lips  the  name  of  Esther  when  she  ad- 
dressed me. 


\vith  licr 

ard  soiiio 
lit  struck 
I  luul  no 
I  must  be 
vould  try 
3  cfFort  I 
'U  I  tried 
I  to  l)C  in 
c  floatini^ 
mtcuiinoe 
y  I  gave 
ncss  until 
returning 
iful  white 
ing  before 
she  knew 
ters ;    but 
Then  I 
ures,  and 
\u\  I  in 
aneed  in 
it  I  could 

hvhat  niv 

tcr  Jane. 
utter  the 
.t  length 
le  (juery, 
[]  a  liard 
|ne  effort 
she  ad- 


RECOVERING. 


477 


"Don't  have  tlie  h'ast  anxiety  or  care,"  she  said, 
"about  this  orphan  asyhiin,  I'ur  the  friends  liave  brought 
grain,  flour,  meal,  meat,  and  groceries  in  al)undancc."  O 
what  a  relief  tlicse  words  brought!  Purely  the  Lord  is 
the  Father  of  the  fatherless. 

After  studying  for  words  I  said,  "  What  is  the  matter?" 
for  I  felt  that  my  head  was  very  sore,  and  my  face  swol- 
len. Wlien  told  that  I  had  fallen  down  cellar  and  was 
l)adly  hurt,  I  was  surprised,  for  1  could  recall  nothing  of 
the  fall.  After  calling  to  nund  the  various  residences  of 
my  daughters,  and  words  to  incpiire  how  they  knew  of  the 
accident,  I  was  told  that  my  son-in-law  telegra})hed  them. 
At  Icny-th  I  reached  the  conclusion  that  I  became  stunned 
by  the  bruise  on  my  head,  and  fell  asleep  and  slept  my 
senses  all  away,  and  that  was  the  reason  I  did  not  know 
any  thing.  I  thought,  nnist  I  learn  to  reaii  again?  Shall  I 
ever  know  any  thing?  IIow  sad  it  will  be  not  to  kn(»w  how 
to  read  or  do  anv  thinir;  but  I  will  leave  all  in  the  hands  of 
the  dear  Havior.  They  gave  mo  medicine  that  I  knew  E 
liad  taken.  Bid  I  not  take  this  an  hour  ago?  "O  no, 
mother,  not  since  yesterday."  What  day  of  the  week  is 
to-day?  "Monday."  Then  to-morrow  will  be  Tuesday. 
"Yes."  I  have  got  so  far,  I  will  remember  thft,  thought 
I.  Again  another  dose  of  medicine  was  given.  Did  I  take 
this  yesterdav?  "  Ymi  took  this  two  hours  atro."  It  is 
certain  that  I  do  not  know  anv  thing.  IIow  sad  it  will  bo 
when  I  get  well  of  this  hurt  fas  I  had  no  doubt  but  I 
should)  and  not  know  any  thing.  But,  then,  the  second 
thouuht  of  leaving  it  with  the  Lord  was  a  restiuL'-idace. 
lUit  consciousness  was  gradually  r(\'<toi'(d.  The  next  day 
my  son  Daniel  came;  but  he  did  not  dare  to  ap[)roach  the 
front  door,  fearing  that  a  tie  of  crape  on  the  knol)  would 
be  the  first  to  tell  him  the  sad  story  of  his  mother's  depart- 
ure. He  was  m(>t  at  the  back  door  by  his  three  sisters, 
(inc  of  whom  inf)rmed  him  of  a  faint  hoi»e  of"  my  rccoverv, 
as  there  was  evidence  of  returning  consciousness.     A  day 


i  ■  t 


',  ." 


\ 


i 

^1       i             • 

i 

'i 

r 

t':.' 

1 

r'4 

; 

;• 

1   ■ 

1 

1; 

t 

ilkil 

478 


A    WOMAN  H    MFK-WOllK. 


latrr  the  fourth  dauglitor,  Anna  11.  Canihurn,  arrived.  I 
was  tlius  })('rmitt(Ml  to  nu>ot  all  my  <'hil<lron  .^^avo  one, 
wlu)se  infant  son  had  died  the  day  after  the  news  reached 
him  of  my  fall.  Jint  as  the  children  daily  informed  their 
brother  Joseph  of  increasing  hope  of  my  recovery,  he,  of 
my  six  children,  Avas  the  only  absent  one.  Throuf^h  their 
tender  caro  and  the  blessing  of  God,  in  answer  to  many 
earnest  jirayers,  I  was  sparc<l  to  toil  on  a  few  years  longer. 
To  him  alone  be  all  the  praise!  INIy  {Savior  never  seemed 
nearer. 

It  was  January,  15,  LSGO,  when  I  fully  realized  that 
conscious!icss  was  restored.  I  renewed  my  entire  consecra- 
tion to  the  service  of  my  Lord  and  Master.  All  was  peace 
and  quiet  within.  The  inmates  of  the  asylum,  between 
twenty-flvG  and  thirty,  were  so  quiet  that  it  seemed  as  if 
no  more  than  my  own  children  were  moving  around  me. 
During  the  second  week,  through  my  dear  friend  Elizal)eth 
1j.  Comstoclv,  scvcnty-fivc  dollars  was  sent  to  us  from 
friends  in  Chicago.  A  few  days  later  thirty  dollars  came 
from  the  same  city.  The  fourth  Avci'k  after  the  fall  I  was 
removed  to  my  home  in  the  city  of  Adrian,  accompanied 
1)y  my  five  chihlren,  three  of  whom  then  returned  to  their 
luMues.  In  f  )ur  months  I  had  so  far  recovered  as  to  be 
able  to  do  moderate  asylum  work,  and  in  one  y(>ar  I  solic- 
ited and  received  one  thousand  dollars  for  the  asylum, 
aside  from  the  means  sent  during  my  inability  t(i  labor. 
This  kept  the  asylum  in  supplies,  "we  hardly  knew  how, 
only  as  it  came  from  the  Father  of  the  fatherless.  "Within 
ten  days  after  my  arrival  at  home  I  received  three  checks 
of  fifty  dollars  each  from  the  Cinciiuiati  Branch  of  the 
American  jMissionary  Association,  from  the  Friends'  Pab- 
bath-school,  in  Syi*acuse,  New  York,  and  from  John  Stan- 
ton, AVashington,  D.  C. 

In  all  this  severe  trial  I  had  no  regrets  in  making  this 
scheme  another  specialty  in  my  life-work.  I  visited  nine 
county   poor-houses,   learning    the   uumber  of  children  iu 


APOPLnXV 


•ro 


•rivt'd.  I 
siivc  ono, 
s  iviiclud 
nietl  tht'ir 
ry,  lie,  of 
)UU;li  their 
•  to  many 
irs  longer. 
er  seemed 

ill  7.0(1  that 
J  consccra- 
was  peace 
1,  l)C!t\veen 
uinetl  as  if 
,roun(l  me. 
[  Elizabeth 
o   us   fro  in 
>llars  came 
fall  T  wti^ 
companicd 
0(1  to  thoir 
ll  as  to  1)0 
'!ir  I  snlio 
,0  asylum, 
to  lahor. 
new  liow, 
Within 
•ee  checks 
h  of  tlie 
mis'  Pal)- 
olm  Stau- 

tking  tills 
ntcd  uino 
lildreu  in 


each,  and  noting  thoir  condition,  with  the  view  of  roi)orting 
in  (»ur  next  Logislaturo.  In  thro(>  of  the  county  .houses 
^vore  girls,  half  idiotic,  who  had  hccome  mothers.  In  one 
there  were  twenty  children  of  school-age,  .'*ent  to  .school  four 
hours  each  day.  As  1  loUowed  the  matron  through  the 
dormitory  and  other  parts  of  the  house,  1  saw  by  the  lillhy 
appearance  of  tlu;  sheets  and  pillows,  as  well  as  a  want  of 
order  generally,  a  great  need  of  system.  As  1  was  about 
to  leave  I  remarked  to  the  matron,  "  You  have  many  un- 
l)leasant  tasks  to  i)erforin  hero." 

"La  me,  I  guess  W(!  do,"  i-lio  said. 

"You  have  plenty  of  vermin  to  deal  with,  I  .suppose?" 
"Indeed  we  do.  You  can  pcrap(!  up  (piarts  of  em." 
I  added  her  testimony  to  my  report.  Then,  aft(>r  vis- 
iting many  of  the  infirmaries  on  A])ril  (Uh,  I  attended 
meetings  of  our  county  supervisors  and  superint(uident  of 
the  poor.  I  reported  our  work,  and  presented  an  order 
for  dues  for  the  jirevious  month.  Having  arranged  my 
monthly  report,  I  presented  it  to  the  monthly  meeting  uf 
our  asyliun  association. 

I  retired  W(^arv,  and  awoke  to  see  Dr.  Pearsall  about 
to  leave  my  room.  lie  was  giving  directions  to  my  two 
anxious  daughters.  To  my  surpi'ise  my  son-in-law  rtMuarked, 
"  ]\[other  is  so  nui(?h  better,  I  ^ill  return  hoiue."  llvw, 
"vvas  a  mystery  I  "was  imablo  to  solve,  and  I  insisted  on 
knowing  why  the  doctor  was  there,  jiow  nearly  2  o'clock  in 
the  morning.  I  was  informed  that  I  had  suffered  an 
attack  of  ajioploxy.  I  was  not  the  least  startled,  Imt 
told  them  if  I  had  had  a  fit  of  that  character,  I  was 
liable  to  go  at  any  time,  and  I  wished  to  say  a  fi-w  things 
and  then  I  would  sleep:  If  I  should  be  taken  away  in  an 
unc(mseious  state  for  them  not  to  have  tho  least  luietjsiness 
about  me,  as  mv  way  was  clear.  I  wisliod  mv  childn^n  to 
live  nearer  the  Savior,  and  meet  their  motlior  in  a  fairer 
clime  thaTi  this,  and  I  refpiested  them  to  tell  my  dear 
absent  chiklreu  the  same.     I  then  directed   how  my  litthj 


480 


A    woman's    LIFK-WOIIK. 


^  '■ 


-,.!.:*, 


r'^ 


1 

i      * 

i 

1        ' 

'   - 1 

I'f  '  ^ 

.  : 

h  '■   :' 

•  1 

1') 

1 '  ■ 

'  'y,  . 

|; 

.    1  • 

Si'     ,    ■ 

1  ■    ' 

■>          i 

ofllcct.s  .should  be  divided  among  my  nix  cliildron,  and  rested 
\vell  iitf^Ieej)  until  tiic  usual  hour  ol"  waking,  and  was  ahlo 
to  (h'esM  in  the  atlernoon. 

Within  ten  (hivs  I  rode  to  the  asylum,  made  arrange- 
mcnts  to  rent  the  land  of  the  asylum  farm  for  the  eoniing 
8(!a.son,  and  wrote  to  brother  G.  A.  Olmstead  to  take  my 
place  in  looking  after  its  interests  for  a  few  months,  as  my 
physicians  told  me  it  was  unsafe  for  me  to  continue  mental 
labor,  and  I  must  rest  at  least  six  months.  This  was  another 
heavy  drawback  upon  our  faith  and  work,  as  we  had  de- 
signed to  circulate  our  petition  during  the  remainder  of  the 
year,  so  as  to  have  it  ready  to  present  to  the  next  l^cgisla- 
ture.  Rev.  CJ.  A.  Olmstead  undertook  the  work  of  solic- 
iting, and  kept  the  asylum  comfortably  supplied  until  his 
health  failed.  Then  a  devoted  and  self-sacri(i(Mng  sister, 
(Jatharinc  Taylor,  took  the  field,  while  I  spent  six  months 
visiting  my  children.  The  severest  prescription  lever  took 
from  physician,  was  to  tJiink  of  nothing.  J?ut  I  succeeded 
admirably,  and  sjient  much  time  in  drawing  bits  of  clip- 
pings and  rags  of  diverse  colors  through  canvas,  making 
domestic  rugs  for  each  of  my  children.  I  called  upon 
various  physicians,  who  gave  it  as  their  opinion  that  I 
could  safely  accomplish  one-fourth  of  my  former  work,  but 
I  did  not  even  reach  that  amount  of  labor.  In  a  little  over 
a  mouth's  work,  with  a  petition  to  the  Legislature  in  my 
pocket,  and  at  the  home  of  Anson  Barkus  and  wife,  I  was 
taken  with  another  midnight  fit,  and  was  much  longer 
unconscious  than  before,  but  I  returned  home  the  follow- 
ing afternoon,  accompanied  by  brother  Bac^kus.  Twenty- 
fiv^e  miles  ride  on  the  car  and  a  mile  in  the  hack  did  not 
improve  the  strange  pressure  in  my  head.  Within  a  week 
I  had  five  terrible  spasms,  lasting  at  times  from  five  to 
twenty  minutes;  during  consciousness  I  was  not  able  to 
speak  a  word.  When  I  appeared  more  comfortable,  and 
my  head  more  natural,  greater  hopes  of  my  recovery  were 
entertained  by  my  physician  and  children. 


IN  VIEW  OF  DKATir. 


481 


luul  rostod 
1  was  ul)lo 

c  iirnui'^e- 
luj  coiiiiiig 
1)  take  my 
tlis,  as  my 
luc  mental 
•as  anotlior 
ve  had  ile- 
KKT  of  the 
xt  Lcgi.shi- 
rk  of  soho- 
il  until  his 
•ing  sisiter, 
six  months 
I  ever  took 
succeeded 
|)its  of  ch))- 
is,  making 
lied    upon 
on  that   I 
work,  hut 
little  over 
ure  in  my 
ivife,  I  Mas 
eh   lon<:?er 
he  follow- 
Twenty- 
k  did  not 
in  a  week 
ni  five  to 
able   to 
ible,  and 
ery  were 


I  thought  these  fits  \v(  re  fiiintings;  lor  1  felt  as  if  I 
had  waked  out  of  sleei)  ea'di  time.  Hut  the  purple  fuiger- 
nails  on  the  last  day  led  me  to  suppose  that  I  woid<l  liit; 
in  one  of  these  faints,  lietweeu  the  fits  I  most  earnestly 
})rayed  that,  if  it  was  llu;  Lord's  will,  I  might  he  re- 
Htored  to  work  for  him  a  little  longer;  hut,  if  otherwise, 
I  wotdd  praise  him  still  for  taking  me  over  the  heaiitifid 
river.  O  what  a  mistake  to  call  it  a  dark,  deej)  river, 
when  it  is  oidy  a  bright,  rippling  stream,  just  acro.><s  which 
all  is  peace  and  joy  for  evermore!  This  was  tlu^  constant 
bn-athing  of  my  s(»id  all  day;  and  it  vividly  flashed  upon 
mv  mind  that  fifteeu  vears  were  added  to  Ilezekiah's  life 
in  answer  to  j)rayer.  This  prayer,  followed  by  those  words, 
ran  "through  my  nund  during  all  that  happy  day.  Can 
death,  that  is  called  the  last  enemy,  look  pleasant?  It  ilid 
look  pleasant  to  mc.     Praise  fillt>d  my  soul. 

That  day  will  never  be  forgotten  as  long  as  memory 
and  reason  endiu'c.  In  the  evening  I  slept  three  mimites, 
they  said,  by  the  watch,  and  when  I  awoke  I  could  talk 
as  easily  as  ever.  From  that  day  I  improved  in  health. 
These  spasms  were  caused  by  the  pressure  of  blood  in  re- 
opening the  temporal  artery,  or  forcing  its  way  through  a 
new  channel.  I  again  received  the  tenderest  of  niu-sing 
on  the  part  of  my  four  daughters,  and  prai.se  is  du(i  only 
to  him  who  is  the  i)rayer-hearing  God.  "With  the  fervent 
prayers  of  that  memorable  day  come  the  words  of  the 
poet : 

"  'T  is  a  plorious  lioon  to  die, 
A  favor  that  can  't  be  prized  too  high  ;" 

because  of  an  abundant  entrance  to  be  administered  to  us 
into  the  glorious  mansions  prepared  by  our  Lord  and  Sav- 
ior Jesus  Christ. 

41 


iff  ( 

if,   '• 
ti    ■ 

I; 


'<4      f 


] 

1     :   ;    1 

(  ■ 

t 

m 


!; 

■■,  ;i ',! 

h  ^'  ifS*-4 

.  :|  \  . 

482 


A   woman's   LIFE-WOIIK. 


Chapter  XVIII; 

PRESENT  CONDITION  OF  THE  FREEDMEN. 

Our  investigations  have  proved  to  the  friends  of  the 
former  slaves  that  their  emigration  from  the  South  was  not 
instituted  and  put  into  operation  hy  their  own  choice,  ex- 
cept as  the  force  of  circumstances,  iu  their  surroundings, 
pressed  tliem  into  this  remarkable  movement.  IMonthly 
reports  of. the  Kansas  Freedmen's  Relief  Association  have 
also  proved  satisfactory  to  thousands  of  donors  toward  their 
relief.  The  increasing  intelligence  among  the  four  millions 
and  a  half  of  slaves,  declared  free  hy  the  nation's  pen  in 
the  hand  of  her  President,  Abraham  Lincohi,  they  found 
did  not  bring  with  it  the  glorious  sunlight  of  freedom  tlie 
proclamation  promised  iu  its  dawn.  After  fifteen  years 
of  patient  hoping,  waiting,  and  watching  for  the  shaping 
of  government,  they  saw  clearly  that  their  future  condition 
as  a  race  must  be  submissive  vassalage,  a  war  of  races,  or 
emigration.  Circulars  were  secretly  distributed  among 
themselves,  until  the  conclusion  was  reached  to  wend  their 
way  northward,  as  their  former  masters'  power  had  again 
become  tyrannous.  This  j)ower  tliey  were  and  are  made 
to  see  and  feel  most  keenly  iu  many  localities,  a  few  inci- 
dents will  show. 

Elder  Perry  Bradley  left  Carthage,  Leek  County,  Mis- 
sissippi, in  January,  1880,  and  testifies  to  the  following 
facts : 

"  Tn  October,  1879,  twenty-five  or  thirty  masked  men 
went  into  Peter  Watson's  house,  and  took  him  from  his 
])ed,  amid  screams  of  'murder'  from  his  wife  and  seven 
children;  but  the  <mly  reply  the  wife  and  children  received 
at  the  hands  of  the  desperadoes  was  a  beating.    Their  boy 


'■  ^^1 


INCIDENTS. 


4S3 


EN. 

(Is  of  the 

li  was  not 

hoice,  cx- 

■oiindings, 

i\Ionthly 

tioii  have 

vard  their 

ir  millions 

I's  pen  in 

liey  found 

odoni  the 

con  y(>ars 

shaping 

condition 

races,  or 

1    among 

end  theii* 

ad  again 

ire  niado 

few  inci- 

|uty,  ^[is- 
foUowing 

Ked  men 
If  rem  his 
lid  seven 
1  received 
lieir  boy 


of  twelve  years  kuoclced  one  down  with  a  chair.  While 
the  lighting  was  going  on  witliin,  and  in  their  efllirts  to 
hold  tiieir  victim  outside,  he  wrenched  himself  from  their 
grasj) — leaving  his  shirt  in  their  hands — and  ran  tiirough 
tiie  woods  t»  my  house,  around  which  colored  men  gath- 
ered and  protected  him.  Although  twelve  gun-sh(jts  fol- 
lowed him  in  the  chase,  yet  none  hit  him.  By  the  aid 
of  friends  he  took  the  first  train  he  could  reacli,  which,  to 
his  surprise,  took  him  twenty-five  miles  southward,  instead 
of  in  a  northern  direction.  At  Cassiasca,  Attala  County, 
Mississippi,  not  knowing  whether  they  were  friends  or  foes, 
he  told  them  he  wanted  to  go  to  Kansas.  They  told  him 
he  sliould  swear  that  he  could  not  nuike  a  living  there, 
before  tiiey  would  allow  him  to  go  North.  As  he  found 
they  were  all  Democrats  at  that  depot,  he  consente<l  to 
their  demand  ;  consecjuently  they  brought  the  Bil)le,  and 
he  took  his  oath  '  that  he  could  make  a  living  there,  but 
could  not  get  it.'  The  Democratic  '  bull-dozers,'  who  had 
sworn  they  would  hang  him  if  they  ever  caught  him,  took 
his  span  of  horses,  wag(m,  three  cows,  and  his  crop  of 
cotton,  corn,  sugar-cane,  and  potatoes  (all  matured),  and 
gave  his  wiio  nu)ney  with  which  to  pay  the  fare  for  her- 
self and  seven  children  tlie  twenty-five  miles  on  the  cars  to 
meet  her  husband.  The  colored  men  were  told  'that  if  they 
would  be  Democrats  they  couM  stay;  Imt  Republicans  and 
carpet-baggers  could  not  live  there.' 

"Austin  Carter,  a  Mt'tliodist  preacher,  was  an  earnest 
temperance  worker,  and  was  ])i-osporing  in  that  part  of  his 
work.  lie  was  also  a  strong  liepuljiiean.  He  was  shot 
dead  in  August,  1878,  near  New  Forest  Station,  Scott 
County,  ^Mississippi,  on  the  railroad  running  cast  and  west 
between  Jackson  and  Meridian,  Mississippi,  while  on  Ids 
Avay  home,  between  the  hours  of  six  and  seven  o'clock  1*. 
M.  He  received  four  shots  in  the  back  of  liis  head,  which 
instantlv  took  his  life.     His  wife  and  chihlren  knew  uoth- 


M 


1 


•»■■ 


.•il 


484 


A  woman's  life-work. 


iiig  of  it  until  tlic  shocking  tidings  reached  tliom  the  fol- 
lowing morning.  Thonjas  Graluun,  a  wealthy  merchant  at 
Forest  Station,  reported  that  (lie  man  who  shot  him  had 
gone  t(»  Texas  and  could  not  he  found  or  heard  from ;  and 
nothing  was  done  to  find  the  murderer  or  to  bring  him 
to  justice." 

Elder  Perry  Bradley  was  told  by  a  number  of  this  class 
of  Democrats,  at  various  places  where  he  was  accustomed 
to  preach,  that  he  could  not  live  there  and  preach  unless 
he  would  vote  the  Democratic  ticket  and  teach  his  people 
to  do  the  same.  Said  he,  "In  the  town  of  Ilillsboro,  at 
one  of  my  meetings,  the  bulldozers  came  into  the  congre- 
gation and  took  me  out  of  the  meeting,  held  in  a  school- 
house  one  mile  from  Ilillsboro,  on  April  15,  1879,  at  ten 
o'clock  P.  ]\I.,  where  I  had  2)reaclied  during  our  day  meet- 
ings without  disturbance.  Captain  Hardy,  leading  the 
band,  took  me  into  the  woods  to  an  old  deserted  house,  in 
Avliich  was  their  general  or  chief  commander,  Warsham, 
who  asked  the  following  question :  '  Will  you  stop  ])reach- 
ing  to  your  people  that  (>hrist  died  to  make  you  all  free, 
body,  soul,  and  spirit?'  *I  can  not  stop  preaching  God's 
truth  as  I  fin(>  it  in  the  Bible,'  was  my  answer.  '  I  want 
you  to  undcrstind  now  that  you  can't  preach  such  doc- 
trine to  our  niggers,'  was  the  rejoinder.  He  then  directed 
them  to  give  me  two  hundred  lashes.  They  took  me  out 
in  the  front  yard  and  drove  four  stakes  in  the  ground,  to 
wliich  each  wrist  and  foot  was  fastened.  After  being  dis- 
robed of  my  clothing  and  fastened,  face  downward,  two 
jnen  were  selected  to  do  the  Avhipping,  one  on  each  side, 
alternating  their  strokes,  while  the  rabble  stood  around 
until  the  two  hundred  lashes  were  given.  Then  tiiey  were 
told  to  stop  and  let  me  up.  Too  weak  and  trend)ling  to 
stand,  I  was  again  queried  whether  I  would  not  now  preach 
the  Democratic  doctrine  and  vote  that  ticket?  I  replied, 
'I  can  not  conscientiously  make  such  a  promise.'     'Why 


PERSKCUTIONS. 


485 


n  the  fol- 
3rchant  at 
him  had 
Toni;  and 
)ring  him 

'  this  class 
^customed 
ich  unless 
his  people 
llsboro,  at 
lie  cougrc- 
1  a  school- 
79,  at  ten 
day  meet- 
ad  ing   the 
house,  in 
^Varsham, 
)p  preach- 
|u  all  free, 
ing  God's 
'  I  want 
Isuch  doc- 
1  directed 
k  mo  out 
jround,  to 
)eing  dis- 
ard,  two 
ach  side, 
1  around 
ley  were 
id)ling  to 
pr(>a(;h 
replied, 
'Why 


not?'  'Because  I  do  not  helievc  there  are  Democrats 
in  heaven.'  Said  their  general,  Warsliam,  'We'll  turn 
liim  loose  witli  tliis  hrushing;  may  he  In; '11  conclude  to 
hehave  himself  after  this.'  Turning  to  me  hi;  said,  '  Ke- 
mcmher,  this  is  but  a  light  hrushing  com])ared  with  what 
you'll  get  next  time;  but  we'll  try  you  with  this.'  I 
returned  to  my  home  with  my  back  cut  in  many  deep 
gashes,  the  scars  of  which  I  shall  carry  to  my  grave.  Yet 
I  praised  God  in  remembrance  that  my  loving  kSavior  suf- 
fered more  than  this  for  nie,  and  tliat  this  suffering  was  in 
liis  cause.  As  soon  as  I  was  able  to  continue  my  work  for 
my  Lord  and  Master  among  my  people  I  was  again  enabled 
to  proclaim  the  riches  of  his  grace.  A  few  weeks  after 
resuming  my  work  I  preached  on  the  Dan.  Lewis'  })lnce,  in 
8cott  County,  where  I  had  held  meetings  undisturbed. 
But  the  same  company  sought  me  out,  and  took  me  out  of 
an  eveniniir  meetinu^  into  the  woods  about  three  miles  <lis- 
taut  to  hang  me.  After  <lue  preparations  were  made  they 
passed  their  whisky  around,  of  which  they  all  dnink  so 
freely  that  in  their  carousings  they  got  into  a  fight,  and 
while  drawing  pistols  at  each  other  young  AVarsham,  he 
acting  captain,  in  whose  charge  I  wius  left,  cut  .the  rope 
that  bound  my  hands  behind  me,  and  told  mc  to  'go.' 
And  gladly  I  obeyed  the  order  and  left  them  engaged  in 
their  fight  and  too  drunk  to  notice  my  escape,  I  hft  that 
land  of  darkness  as  soon  as  possible  for  this  free  Kansas, 
and  I  have  my  family  with  me,  for  which  I  thank  my 
Deliverer  from  the  jaws  of  the  Hon  of  oppression,  and 
praise  the  Lord  of  hosts  for  a  free  country,  where  I  can 
vote  as  well  as  preach  according  to  tlie  dictates  of  my 
own  conscience  without  the  torturing  whip  or  the  hang- 
man's rope," 

Professor  T.  Greener,  of  Howard  University,  Wasliing- 
to!i,  I).  C,  who  has  been  prominently  identiticd  in  the 
new  exodus  lately  returned  fr(jm  a  trip  to  Kansas,  where 
he  visited  the  (.'olorcd  (Colonies,  and  gathen-d  information 


§i: 


fp' 


486 


A   WOMAN  S   LIFE- WORK. 


•M 


■•■«!c 

s 

■(?■■■ 

}' 

i 

( 

■  it: 

' 

1 

■i  ■ 
1  < 

' 

,*  ■  :    • 

• 

I   . 


regarding  the  l)Ia('k  oiiiigraiits.  Ho  reports  them  as  doing 
^vell,  constantly  receiving  accessions  to  their  nuinijers,  and 
well  treated  by  their  white  neighbors.  lie  says:  "Indica- 
tions })(>int  ti)  a  continuance  of  emigration  during  the  Win- 
ter, and  increase  in  the  Spring,  not  in  consecpience  of  any 
s})ocial  effort  on  the  part  of  those  who  favor  this  S()lutit)U 
of  the  vexed  Southern  (juestion,  but  because  the  emigrants 
themselves  are  proving  the  best  agents  and  propagandists 
among  their  friends  South."  Professor  Greener  is  warm  in 
his  praise  of  Governor  John  P.  St.  John  and  the  j)eople 
of  Kansas. 

A  staff  correspondent  of  the  Chicago  Intcr-Ocrcin, 
writing  from  Topcka,  Kansas,  Decend)er  31,  1879,  says: 
"During  four  weeks'  travel  through  the  State,  I  estimate 
the  nundxT  of  colored  emigrants  at  fifteen  or  twenty  thou- 
sand. Of  these  one-fifth  probably  are  able  to  buy  land, 
and  are  making  good  progress  at  farming.  ^lost  of  tlic 
otiiers  have  found,  through  the  Fnu'dmen's  lielief  Associ- 
ation, places  as  la])orcrs,  and  are  giving  good  satisfaction ; 
and  in  no  county  are  they  applying  for  aid,  nor  are  bur- 
dens ui)on  cor()oratc  charities.  The  demand  for  laborers 
seems  strptched  to  its  fullest  capacity,  as  the  accumulation 
of  refugees  at  the  barracks  (now  nearly  seven  hundred), 
for  whom  no  ])]aces  can  be  found,  clearly  indicates.  Judg- 
ing from  what  I  learn  from  the  refugees  themselves,  and 
from  the  increasing  numbers,  now  from  twenty-five  to  fifty 
arriving  every  day,  we  i)redict  that  the  movement  to  Kan- 
sas will  soon  assume  such  proportions  as  to  astonish  the 
c(mntry,  and  mdess  the  tide  can  be  turned,  or  the  charity 
of  the  North  be  more  readily  bestowed,  the  suffering  which 
the  relief  committee,  although  laboring  faithfully  with  the 
means  at  their  command,  has  not  been  entirely  sufficient  to 
relieve  during  the  past  cold  weather,  will  soon  be  turned 
to  general  destitution  and  great  suffering  among  the  pauper 
refugees." 

The  greatest  crime   in  many  portions  of  the  South  is 


PEKSFATTION   OF   COLORED   REPUBLICANS.      487 


1  as  doing 
ilxTs,  aud 
"  ludica- 
the  Win- 
ce of  any 
3  solution 
emigrants 
)agandists 
i  warm  in 
lie  people 

fcr-Ocran, 
79,  says: 
.  estimate 
nty  tliou- 
jiiy  land, 
st  of  the 
if  Associ- 
isfaction ; 
are  bur- 
laborers 
mulation 
undred), 
Judg- 
es, and 
to  fifty 
to  Kan- 
iish  the 
charity 
g  which 
with  the 
cient  to 
turned 
pauper 

south  is 


being  a  Republican.  This  has  added  largely  to  the  cjnigra- 
tion,  and  the  tide  has  reached  not  only  Kansas,  but  the 
older  States  of  tiie  Nortii.  It  lias  entered  Indiana,  Ohio, 
and  Illinois,  and  soon  will  find  its  way  into  Wisconsin, 
Iowa,  and  ^Michigan.  We  find  no  political  chicanery  of  the 
North  in  this  universal  uprising  of  the  colored  people  of 
the  South  in  leaving  the  home  of  their  birth.  IMit  it  is 
the  mistaken  policy  of  the  South  that  is  driving  their  labor- 
ers northward ;  that  is,  compelling  them  to  flee  to  more 
congenial  surroundings.  It  is  among  the  wonders  that  they 
Avaited  so  long  and  so  patiently  for  the  better  day  to  come. 
Not  long  ago  one  thousand  arrived  in  Parsons,  Kansas,  in 
the  south-western  part  of  the  State.  Governor  St.  John 
gave  them  a  temperance  spe<^ch  with  other  good  advice. 
Two  hundred  and  twenty-five  arrived  in  Topeka,  and  while 
I  was  at  the  barracks  over  seventy  came  in  from  T(!xas. 
Hardly  a  day  passed  while  I  wns  there  but  we  heard  of 
fresh  arrivals.  Eleven  wagon-loads  came  into  Parsons, 
and  two  of  the  men  came  to  Topeka  and  reported  the  con- 
dition of  many  of  them  as  very  po(»r.  We  relieved  within 
three  weeks  over  one  thousand  persons. 

Tlie  crime  of  being  a  Erpuhliean ,  in  many  portions  of 
the  South,  is  shown  by  the  following  testimonies.  I  inter- 
viewed an  intelligent  colored  man,  John  S.  Scott,  of  An- 
derson County,  South  Carolina.  He  came  well  recom- 
mended as  a  well  (pialified  ti'acher.  lie  had  taught  twenty- 
eight  terms  of  school  in  South  Carolina  and  six  terms  in 
Georgia;  but  if  he  succeeded  in  colle(;ting  half  his  ])ay  ho 
did  well.  *IIe  handed  me  a  package  of  certificates  and  com- 
mendations. His  friends  were  about  to  run  him  for  office, 
but  his  life  was  threatened,  and  he  was  informed  that  llicy 
were  determined  to  have  a  "white  man's  government,"  and 
gave  him  to  understand  that  if  he  got  the  office,  his  life 
would  be  worthli'ss. 

Abbeville  district,  in  that  State,  was  Repul)lican,  and 
John  Oweu  was  an  influential  colored  Kepublicau.     During 


f 


488 


A    WOMAN  S    I.I FE- WORK. 


!!•■» 


!   rii 


Ml 


;rV, 


IIH 1 

is 

the  eloction  ho  \vas  arrested  and  placed  in  jail,  under  the 
charge  <»f  selling  forty-eight  pounds  of  twisted  tobacco 
^'ithout  license.  When  arraigned  before  the  court  it  was 
proved  that  he  had  no  such  article,  yet  they  fined  him 
fifty  dollars.  He  had  raised  tobacco,  but  it  was  still  in 
the  leaf.  The  fine  was  paid,  and  after  the  election  he  was 
released. 

In  the  Seventh  Cougressional  District,  on  Coosa  River, 
September  24,  1877,  a  white  man  by  the  name  of  Burnam 
offered  to  })urchase  a  small  cotton  farm  near  his,  owned  by 
a  colored  man,  and  offered  him  forty  dollars  for  it.  The 
owner  replied,  "  I  will  sell  to  no  man  for  that  amount." 
Nothing  more  was  said  on  the  subject,  and  the  colored 
man  purchased  a  few  pounds  of  bacon  of  Burnam  and  left 
for  home.  As  he  had  to  })ass  a  little  skirt  of  woods,  Bur- 
nam took  his  gun,  crossed  the  woods,  and  came  out  ahead 
of  the  colored  man  and  shot  him  dead !  He  remained  at 
his  home  two  weeks,  when  the  excitement  over  the  cold- 
blooded murder  became  unpleasant  for  him,  and  he  left 
the  neighborhood,  and  had  not  returned  in  JSEarch,  1878, 
the  date  my  infornuuit  left  the  country.  The  murdered 
man  was  a  Republican. 

Sanford  Griffin  was  an  honorably  discharged  soldier,  and 
lie  testifi(>d  that  Columbus  Seats  was  shot  dead  by  Frank 
Phillips,  in  Clarksville,  Tennessee.  Griffin  made  an  effort 
to  have  the  murderer  arrested,  but  failed.  No  difference 
was  known  to  exist  between  them,  except  on  the  subject 
of  politics.  Seats  was  a  Re})ublican,  and  could  not  be 
induced  to  vote  the  Bourbon  ticket. 

In  the  autumn  of  1878  Vincent  Anderson  was  brought 
into  Clarksville,  Montgomery  County,  Tennessee,  at  eleven 
o'clock  A.  i\I,  The  following  night  a  mob  took  him 
out  of  jail  and  hanged  him  on  a  locust  tree  on  the  Nash- 
ville Pike,  near  Clarksville.  This  case  Griffin  made  an 
effort  to  bring  before  the  court,  but  failed.  The  jailer, 
Perkins,  said  the  men  who  brought  Anderson  to  the  jail, 


KKGUO    WOMAN    KirjJlD. 


489 


iiil,  under  the 
if-ted  tobacco 
;  court  it  was 
ley  fiucd  him 
t  was  .still  ill 
lectioii  lie  wag 

Coosa  River, 
le  of  Burnani 
lis,  owned  by 

for  it.  The 
Init  amount." 

the  colored 
-nam  and  left 
'  woods,  Bur- 
ne  out  ahead 

remained  at 
ver  the  eold- 

and  he  left 
Farch,  1878, 
e   murdered 

soldier,  and 
d  l)y  Frank 

de  an  eflbrt 
To  difrerence 

the  subject 
)uld  not  be 

ras  ])rought 
,  at  eleven 
took  him 
the  Nash- 
1  made  an 
The  jailer, 
to  the  jail, 


came  in  the  nii^ht,  and  having  overpowered  him,  forcibly 
took  the  jail  ke}.  But  a  girl  of  thirteen  years  testified 
that  she  saw  the  men  in  conversation  witli  the  jailer,  and 
was  confident  they  paid  him  money.  Vincent  Anderson 
had  purchased  ten  acres  of  land,  and  had  paid  every 
installment  promptly,  and  was  on  the  way  to  the  railroad 
station  to  make  his  last  payment,  when  the  mob  took  him 
to  jail,  until  the  darkness  of  night  favored  their  wicked 
purpo.se  of  taking  his  life.  He  could  not  be  prevailed 
upon  to  vote  the  Bourbon  ticket. 

One  more  incident  this  intelligent  ex-Union  soldier  gave 
to  which  he  was  a  witness:  A  young  white  woman,  Miss 
Smith,  purchased  a  pistol  and  remarked,  "  I  am  going  to 
kill  a  nigger  before  the  week  is  out."     During  that  week 
her  father  and  Farran,  a  colored  man,  had  a  (lis])ute,  but 
Farran  had  no  thouglit  of  any  serious  result  from  it.     But 
as  Lydia  Farran,  the  wife  of  the  colored  man,  was  on  her 
way  to  the  field   to  help  her  husl)and,   INIiss  Smith,  the 
white  girl  of  eighteen  or  twenty  years  of  age,  took  the  pis- 
tol she  had   purchased  a  day  or   two  previously,  and  fol- 
lowed Lydia  and  shot  her  dead!     She  left  two  little  chil- 
dren, that  a  colored  family  got  to  their  distracted  father, 
who  escaped  for  his  life.     He  had  not  known  of  any  difii- 
eulty  between  his  wife  and  Miss  Smith,  or  any  other  of  the 
family,  and  could  attribute  the  cool  calculating  murder  of 
his  wife  to    no  other  cause   than  the  little  difference  of 
opinion  that  was  expressed  r\  few  days  i)revious  to  the  fatal 
deed !     Sanford  Grifiin  succeede<l  in  bringing  this  case  be- 
fore the  court.     But  the  charge  of  tiie  judge  to  the  jurors 
was,  "  You  must  bear  in  mind  that  Miss  Smith  was  the 
weaker   party,  and   if  the  shooting  was   in  sself-defense,  it 
Avould  be  justifiable  homicide."    The  jury  so  returned  their 
verdict,  and  the  case  was  dismissed. 

The  Freedmen's  Aid  Commission  in  Kansas  relieved  the 
wants  of  many  of  these  refugees  from  the  South ;  but  the 
number  of  colored  people  was  so  great  that,  until  they 


'.    H 


400 


A    W«).\f.\N\s    I,II'K-\VO[{K. 


i-   !  •: 


«  I 


could  find  places  to  work  for  others  or  for  themselves,  the 
Commission  hiid  dilHculty  to  cure  for  them.  A  circiiliir 
letter  wiis  issued,  jii)])ejiliiig  to  the  i'rieuds  of  the  e;iuse  for 
hel[).  To  tliis  letter,  sent  out  in  December,  LSTD,  these 
few  telling  words,  from  our  dear  friend  and  Cliristian  phi- 
lanthropist, Elizabeth  L.  Comstock,  were  added:  "The 
treasury  is  nearly  em])ty ;  city  and  barracks  very  much 
crowded ;  refugees  connng  in  faster  than  we  can  care  ibr 
them;  money  urgently  needed  for  food,  fuel,  and  medicine, 
and  also  to  provide  shelter."  We  take  })leasure  in  au- 
uoimeing  that  our  appeals  from  time  to  time  met  with 
responsive  chords  in  many  hearts,  and  relief  was  sent  to 
the  perishing. 

It  is  needless  to  speak  further  of  the  causes  for  emi- 
gration, so  clearly  set  forth  in  the  foregoing  facts;  but  we 
give  a  late  one,  which  in  its  section  of  country  caused 
considerable  anxiety  and  stir  among  this  op])ressed  pe()})le. 
About  the  close  of  July  an  article  api)eared  in  the  Mer- 
cury, edited  by  Colonel  A.  G.  Horn,  at  Meridian,  INIissis- 
sippi,  in  which  occurs  the  following:  "We  would  like  to 
engrave  a  propliccy  on  stone,  to  be  read  by  generations  in 
the  future.  The  negroes  in  these  States  will  be  slaves 
again  or  cease  to  be.  Their  sole  refuge  from  e::tinction 
will  be  in  slavery  to  the  white  man."  Do  not  forget,  dear 
reader,  that  though  ignorant,  as  a  large  majority  of  cx- 
slaves  are,  yet  their  children  read  these  sentiments,  which 
are  more  outsjjoken  than  that  which  characterizes  South- 
ern Democracy ;  yet  re-enlivened  treason  is  nevertheless 
the  true  sentiment  and  ruling  power  of  many  places  in 
'ex-slave  States.  It  is  so  accepted  by  the  negroes,  who,  to 
avoid  extinction  or  slavery,  seek  refuge  amid  physical  and 
j)ecuniary  hardships.  Indeed,  this  exodus  from  the  South 
is  not  ended — a  move  for  freedom  is  not  easily  extinguished. 
To  aid  the  reader  fully  to  understand  the  needs  of  these 
poor  people  in  the  southern  portion  of  Kansas,  I  insert  au 
appeal  of  a  constant  and  self-sacrificing  worker  for  them, 


Tisolves,  the 
A  circ'uhir 
10  c'luiso  for 
1(S71),  tluvso 
iristiiin  phi- 
led :  "The 
very  much 
nil  cure  for 
d  medicine, 
sure  iu  au- 
li  met  with 
ivas  sent  to 

■cs  for  c mi- 
lts; but  we 
itry  caused 
scd  pe()})lc. 
n  tiic  Mer- 
ian,  JNIissis- 
iild  hkc  to 
orations  iu 
jc  shives 
e:  tinction 
!'f;ot,  dear 
ty  of  cx- 
ts,  which 
ies  South- 
vcrtlieless 
places  in 
,  who,  to 
sica)  and 
he  South 
nguished. 
s  of  these 
insert  au 
or  them, 


LETTER   FROM    T1[E   801^X11. 


491 


Daniel  Votaw,  of  Independence,  Kansas:  "It  appears  that 
the  southern  j)orti()n  of  this  State  is  having  a  larger  sliare 
of  emigrants  than  any  other  part  of  it.  For  this  reason  I 
ask  the  philanthropist  to  send  aid  (juickly.  I  believe 
clothing  will  come;  but  who  will  send  money  to  buy 
])read?  Most  of  them  say,  'Just  give  corn-bread,  and  we 
are  satisfied.'  I  have  never  seen  nor  heard  so  much  grat- 
itude come  from  any  people  as  flows  from  the  hearts  of 
these  poor  colored  refugees.  Our  granaries  are  full,  our 
groceries  groan  with  the  weight  of  provisions  ;  but  these  suf- 
ferers have  nothing  to  buy  with.  My  blood  almost  runs 
chill  when  I  remember  that  there  are  two  excessive  luxu- 
ries used  by  persons  who  call  themselves  men,  that  w(;uld, 
if  rightly  applied,  fill  this  crying  bill  of  want;  nanjely, 
tobacco  and  whisky.  Come,  erring  brothers,  to  the  nscue. 
Can  you  not  donate  these  expenses  to  this  good  cause? 
Do  it,  and  Heaven  will  bless  you.  Those  who  may  send 
provisions,  clothing,  or  money,  will  get  a  correct  account, 
if  a  note  of  donor  or  shipi)er  is  found  inside  the  j)ackage, 
to  enable  us  to  respond  with  a  correct  receipt." 

I  have  a  letter  from  a  colored  nnin  in  Mississippi,  ad- 
dressed to  Governor  John  P.  St.  John,  which  he  turned 
over  to  me  to  answer.  I  give  an  extract:  "Please  advise 
me  what  to  do.  The  white  men  here  say  we  have  got  to 
stay  here,  because  we  have  no  money  to  go  with.  We  can 
organize  with  a  little.  Since  the  white  j)eop]e  mistrust  our 
intentions,  they  hardly  let  us  have  bread  to  eat.  As  S()(,n 
as  we  can  go  ou  a  cheap  scale,  we  are  getting  ready  to 
leave.  Some  of  us  arc  almost  naked  and  starved.  We 
are  banding  together  without  any  instruction  from  you  or 
any  aid  society.  We  are  all  Tvopubllcans,  and  hard-work- 
ing men,  and  men  of  trust.  AVe  have  to  keep  our  inten- 
tion secret  or  be  shot;  and  we  are  not  allowed  to  meet. 
"We  want  to  leave  before  the  matter  is  found  out  by  the 
bulldozers.  There  are  forty  widows  in  our  band.  They 
are  work-women  and  farmers  also.     The  white  men  hero 


492 


A  woman's  lifk-work. 


!     -I 


take  our  wives  and  dauj^htcrs,  and  serve  thorn  as  they 
please,  and  wc  are  shot  if  we  say  any  thni^'  about  it:  and 
if  we  vote  any  other  way  than  their  way  we  can  not  hvc 
in  our  State  or  county.  We  are  sure  to  leave,  or  he  killed. 
They  have  driven  away  all  Northern  whites  and  colored 
leaders.  A  little  instruction  from  you  will  aid  the  com- 
mittee greatly  iu  our  efforts  in  getting  away.  Hoping  to 
liear  from  you  soon  in  regard  to  the  re(piest,  we  remain, 
very  truly,  yours,"  etc. 

The  foregoing,  from  which  I  purposely  omit  the  name 
and  address  of  the  writer,  is  a  sample  of  many  hundreds 
of  letters  received  hy  Governor  St.  John.  ]\Iany  of  them 
he  placed  in  our  hands  to  reply.  But  neither  the  gover- 
nor nor  our  association  could  do  any  thing  to  bring  these 
l)oor  people  to  Kansas.  Our  sole  object  is  to  relieve  them 
after  their  arrival.  Consequently,  it  is  but  little  encour- 
agement we  could  give  these  sorrowing  hearts  as  to  any 
l)reparati()ns  for  leaving  that  poisoned  land.  One  family 
told  us,  "We  were  compelled  to  lay  our  plans  in  secret; 
and  we  left  our  bureau  and  two  large  i)itchers  standing  in 
our  cabin,  and  took  a  night  boat."  What  a  misnomer  to 
call  our  former  slave  States  free! 

The  cry  has  been,  "  The  sooner  Northern  carpet-baggers 
leave  the  South,  the  better  for  them ;  and  the  sooner  the 
nigger  finds  his  proper  place,  and  keeps  it,  the  better  for 
him."  The  following  incidents  will  serve  as  data,  from 
which  we  have  a  right  to  judge  of  the  manner  used  to 
bring  the  colored  people  into  what  they  deem  their  i)roper 
place.  But  they  are  becoming  too  intelligent  to  endure 
subjugation  when  they  can  evade  it  by  flight. 

Kobert  Robinson,  (m  the  road  between  Huntsville,  Al- 
abama, and  Cold  Springs,  hired  a  colored  man  for  three 
months,  and  he  called  at  his  store  for  his  pay.  "All  right," 
said  Robinson;  "step  back,  and  we  '11  look  over  the  books 
and  pay  you."  After  entering  the  room  the  door  was 
locked,  and  Robinson  placed  a  pistol  at  his  head,  while  his 


pm  as  they 
loiit  it:  and 
an  not  live 
)r  be  killed, 
and  colored 
Id  the  coni- 
Hoping  to 
we  remain, 

it  the  name 
ly  hundreds 
my  of  them 
r  the  gover- 
bring  these 
•clieve  them 
ttle  eneour- 
s  as  to  any 
One  family 
m  secret; 
standing  iu 
lisuomcr  to 

pet-baggers 

sooner  the 

better  for 

data,  from 

icr  ufeed  to 

icir  i)roper 

to  endure 

tsville,  Al- 
for  throe 

All  right," 

the  books 

door  was 

while  his 


ATHoriTiKS. 


493 


brother  beat  him  with  a  pine  club,  which  disabled  him 
from  labor  for  three  weeks.     This  was  his  pay. 

Giles  Lester  was  taken  to  jail,  and  was  in  the  handa 
of  Bailiff  Dunley.  A  mob  of  iifteen  or  twenty  men  took 
him  out  on  Friday  night,  to  a  j)iece  of  woods,  and  hanged 
him — not  so  as  to  break  his  neck  at  once;  but  thev  were 
three  hours  in  beating  him  to  death.  A  white  man  living 
near  by  said  he  never  heard  such  cries  and  groans  of  ag- 
ony in  all  his  life  as  during  those  three  hours.  These 
atrocities  were  committed  within  two  years  past. 

During  the  ]\Ilssissij)pi  riot  that  fiercely  raged  during 
1875-G,  the  oly'ect  of  which  was  to  secure  a  .solid  Democratic 
vote  at  the  presidential  election,  innocent  men,  without 
tlie  shadow  of  provocation,  were  hauled  out  of  their  houses 
and  shot,  or  hanged ;  and  no  legal  notice  was  taken  of  the 
murderers,  for  they  were  men  of  property  and  standing. 
General  J.  R.  Chalmers  was  a  leader  in  one  band  of  these 
rioters,  and  is  now  honored  with  a  seat  in  Congress.  The 
mob  took  Henry  Alcorn  out  of  his  house  to  the  woods  and 
shot  him,  leaving  the  murdered  man  to  be  buried  by  his 
friends,  who  mourned  over  his  sad  fate.  But  there  is  no 
redress  where  this  corrupt  j)ublic  sentiment  takes  the  jjlacc 
of  law.  This  band  of  rioters  called  up  Charlie  (jlre(!n  to 
cook  for  them  all  night  at  one  of  their  places  of  rendez- 
vous. At  early  niorn,  Charlie  being  tired,  fell  asleep  sit- 
ting on  a  dry-goods  box.  One  of  the  party  said  he  wanted 
to  try  his  gun  before  starting,  and  discharged  its  contents 
into  Green's  body,  taking  his  life  instantly! 

One  or  two  instances  of  Southern  malignity  and  outrage 
were  reported  to  me  by  one  of  these  refugees.  A  woman 
residing  near  some  of  those  whom  I  interviewed  during  my 
stay  in  Kansas,  in  l-'^TO-^O,  was  callcnl  out  by  the  "Bour- 
bons" or  "Regulators"  who  were  in  pursuit  of  her  husband, 
and  questioned  as  to  his  whereabouts.  tSusjuH'ting  that 
their  object  was  to  take  his  life  she  refu.«ed  to  tell.  lTj)oii 
this  a  rojx)  was  placed  around  her  neck  and  tied  to  a  horse's 


^^ 


404 


A    WOMAN  S    MFK-WOKK. 


KM. 


ili 


•5      t- 


tnil,  and  she  was  thus  <lra;rg<'«l  to  tlio  nearest  wood  and 
liangL'd  t(»  lli(!  limb  of  a  tree  until  hIii;  was  (UmuI.  Ili-r  lius- 
})an(l  made  his  escape  as  best  he  eould  Avitli  his  mother- 
less l)al)e. 

There  was  a  i)lanhition  in  INIississippi  rented  to  six 
ccdored  men,  three  of  llieni  with  families.  At  Christmas 
they  called  for  a  settlement.  iMor^am,  the  proprietor, 
brought  them  into  his  debt,  and  swore  "every  nigger  had 
eaten  his  head  off."  lie  took  seven  hundred  bushels  of 
wheat  that  they  had  raised,  and  fourteen  fat  hogs,  tho 
corn,  and  even  the  team  and  wagon  they  brought  on  tlio 
])laee.  They  concluded  to  resort  to  the  civil  authorities, 
hoping  to  recover  a  })ortion  of  the  avails  of  the  season's 
liard  work.  But  ^lorgan  gained  the  suit.  At  this  the 
colored  men  told  him  just  what  they  thought  of  this  wholes- 
sale  robbery.  Within  a  week  after  the  six  men  were  taken 
out  of  their  beds  in  the  dead  of  night,  by  a  company 
of  masked  "Regulators,"  who  stripped  the  l)edsteads  of 
their  cords,  with  which  they  were  hanged  and  tlu'U  lashed 
to  l)oards  and  sent  tloating  down  the  iMississippi  River.  A 
white  cloth  was  fastened  over  their  bosotns,  upon  wbicli 
was  written  :  "Any  one  taking  up  these  bodies  to  bury  may 
expect  the  same  fate."  They  Avere  taken  out  of  the  river 
one  hundred  miles  Ik'Iow.  Two  of  the  widows  sent  for  tho 
bodies  of  their  hus])an(ls,  and  a  number  whom  I  conversed 
with  attended  tho  funeral  and  read  the  notice  on  the  linen, 
which  had  not  been  removed  from  their  jiersons.  Surely 
we  have  a  right,  and  it  is  our  duty  to  ventilate  these  facts, 
though  we  may  be  deemed  sensational.  We  can  not  be 
charged  with  political  wire-pulling,  as  they  are  beyond  our 
reach.  Rut  I  ask,  in  tho  Avords  of  Elizabeth  M.  Chandler, 
who  has  long  since  gone  to  her  rest  and  reward — 

"Sliall  Ave  behold  iinlieeding 

Life's  lioliest  feel in^^s  ernslied?  ,  ' 

AVliou  woman's  lieiirt  is  bleeding, 
►Shall  woman's  voice  be  bushed?" 


UF-:ri'(Ji:F:H  ix  Kansas. 


41)5 


Ih  it  a  Wdiidrr  the  frocdinoii  floo  by  huiulrods  and  tliou- 
sand-s?  'riu'v  an*  still  comiDsr  into  Kansas.  Tlu-rc  aiv 
many  sick  and  <lyin<^  ainonj;  tlicin.  Lot  every  man,  woman, 
and  child  arise  and  work  for  tlio  rct'n^'ccs,  who  arc  sullcr- 
ing  for  food,  fuid,  and  clothing.  There  is  great  necessity 
for  immediate  and  vigorous  cH'ort,  in  taking  the  place  of 
the  (tood  Samaritan  in  caring  for  the  roUhed  and  hrnb<ed 
stranger,  who  find  many  ])riests  and  Levitts  j)assing  by. 
During  the  Winter  all  money  and  supplii's  lor  Kac.sas 
refugees  should  be  directed  to  Elizabeth  L.  Comstock, 
North  Topeka,  Kansa.s. 

Our  work  is  liy  every  possible  means  aiding  tlicse  poor 
people  to  help  themselves,  which  they  are  doing  wherever 
work  can  l)c  found.  But  Winter  season  overtaking  them  on 
the  way  to  Kansas,  and  no  work  to  be  obtained,  \\\o  phi- 
lanthroj)y  of  our  North  will  not  withhold  her  liberal  liand. 
It  is  a  debt  whicli  we  owe  to  this  people.  Comparatively 
few  call  for  assistnncc  who  have  been  in  the  State  a  year, 
and  most  of  these  are  aged  grandparents,  the  sick,  and 
widows  with  large  families  of  small  children. 

Of  those  who  came  early  in  the  Spring  of  1879,  many 
have  raised  from  one  hundr.'l  to  four  hundred  bushels  of 
corn  each  year,  but  they  divide  with  their  friends  and 
relatives  who  follow  them.  Some  raised  a  few  acres  of 
cotton  in  their  first  year,  and  they  are  jubilant  over  their 
future  outlook.  They  say,  "  Kansas  prairies  will  blossom 
as  the  rose,  and  whiten  her  thousands  of  i\crvH  with  their 
favorite  sta})le."  One  old  man  whose  head  was  almost  as 
white  as  the  few  acres  of  cotton  he  i)roduced,  said,  "We'll 
'stonish  the  nation  wid  thousands  of  snow-whito  acres  of 
cotton  in  dis  yere  free  Kansas,  raised  wid  black  hands."  I 
find  they  are  writing  back  to  their  relatives  and  friends  in 
the  far  off  South,  that  they  can  raise  cotton  as  successfully 
in  Kansas  as  in  Mississippi,  Alabama,  and  Louisiana.  In 
this  prospect  the  door  of  hoj)e  is  opening  before  them,  as 
if  by   the  Almighty  hand,  which  they  accept   as  having 


49G 


A    WOMAN  S    IJFi:-WORK. 


■»   <'>: 


•t. 

,.^, 

■r  1 

1  ■  , 

i ; 
i' 

I  f 

j 

iiji'i 


led  them  to  the  "hind  of  freedom,"  as  they  often  express 
themselves. 

Tliey  arc  coming  in  larger  nundiers  again,  notwitli- 
standing  every  ])o>sih]e  eliort  of  })lan(('r.s  to  keep  them 
back,  and  false  reports  from  their  enemies  in  this  .State 
that  the  exodus  had  ended;  but  we  >vho  are  iu  communi- 
cation with  other  portions  of  the  State  know  to  the  con- 
trary, and  all  ^Yho  come  report  more  to  follow.  These  poor 
people  who,  between  March,  1879,  and  March,  1881,  have 
made  their  escape  from  an  oppression  that  seems  almost 
incredible,  and  have  come  to  Kansas  to  live,  now  number 
more  than  fifty  thousand,  and  still  they  come.  Like  a 
great  panorama,  the  scenes  I  witnessed  in  this  State  six- 
teen years  ago,  amid  clashing  arms,  come  back  to  me. 
Suffering  and  dying  then  seemed  the  order  of  each  day. 
True,  there  is  a  great  deal  of  suffering  and  ignorance 
among  these  field  hands  still,  l)ut  there  is  a  marked  im- 
provement, botii  as  to  the  intelhgence  of  these  masses  and 
their  personal  comfort.  Are  they  not  as  intelligent  as  were 
the  children  of  Israel  when  they  left  Egypt  ?  They  made 
a  golden  calf  to  worship  after  Closes  had  left  them  a  few 
days.  All  ignorant  people  are  j)rone  to  dej^end  U])on  lead- 
ers instead  of  relying  on  themselves. 

Joseph  Fletcher,  who  came  into  Kansas  July  8,  1870, 
I  fi)und  by  his  paj)ers  to  be  an  honorably  discharged  sol- 
dier from  ]Mississij)pi.  lie  testifies  to  the  following  facts: 
"  I  saw  one  hundred  men  killed  bv  shootinti"  and  hantrinir 
during  the  two  years,  1878  and  1879;  and  my  brother  was 
one  of  them.  I  can  point  to  their  graves  to-day  in  the  two 
parishes  I  worked  in.  This  was  in  the  Red  River  section, 
IMississippi.  Th.eir  crime  was  their  j)ersistence  in  voting 
the  Republican  ticket."  A  numl)er  of  the  rei)resentative 
men  from  those  parishes  were  interviewed,  and  they  testi- 
fied to  the  same  things.  A  number  of  them  had  been 
soldiers. 

Andrew  J.  Jackson,  directly  from  AVaterproof,  Missis- 


nrij.DoziN(j. 


497 


n  express 

notwitli- 
cep    tluMU 
this  State 
conimuni- 
>  the  eon- 
riiesc  poor 
L88i,  have 
ins  almost 
iw  number 
>,     Like  a 

State  six- 
ck   to  me. 

each  (lay. 

iixnorancc 
narked  im- 
masses  and 
ent  as  were 
riiey  made 

hem  a  few 

upon  lead- 

y  8,  1879, 
Iharged  sol- 
ving; facts: 
id  hanging 
|)rother  was 
in  the  two 
er  section, 
[  in  voting 
iresentative 
tliey  testi- 
had  been 

)of,  Missis- 


sip])i,  says: 


Fairf: 


IX   was   a   smai 


t,  educated   niai 


He 


owned  his  house  and  land,  and  gave  a  lot  to  tlu'  e(ilor('(l 
Baptist  Church  and  mostly   built  it.      J>ut  the  bulld(»/,(!rs 


)urne( 


1   both    iiouse   and   church.       He    rebuilt   his  Ik 


)use 


The  Ivepubliciins  iidminated  him  li»r  Scnatur,  and  the 
Bourbon  Democrats  f(tund  he  would  be  electee!.  They 
threatened  his  life,  and  as  he  iitund  snares  were  laid  to 
entrap  him,  he  made  liis  escape  to  New  Orleans  liir  safity. 
When  thev  learned  as  to  his  whereal)outs,  a  numbi'r  of 
men  wrote  for  him  to  come  back,  and  they  would  drop  tlu^ 
matter  and  let  the  election  go  as  it  would;  ijut  he  heeded 
neither  their  letters  nor  telegrams.  One  of  his  fricMids  was 
fearful  that  he  would  heed  their  persuasions  and  went  to 
sec  him,  and  (old  him  not  to  listen  to  their  sweet  talk,  for 
the  l)ulldozers  only  wanted  him  l)ack  so  that  they  might 
take  his  lil'e.  The  white  Democrats  continueil  to  write  to 
him  to  come  back  and  advis(\  the  colored  peo|)le  not  to  go 
North,  and  lliey  wouhl  promise  to  protect  him,  for  everv 
body  wanteil  him  to  return  and  none  wniild  nioh  ,-t  him. 
As  he  did  not  return  fir  all  their  pledges,  one  man,  who 
had  always  appeared  very  friendly  with  him,  went  to  see 
him,  and  told  him  that  all  who  had  oppi^sed  him  pledged 
tlu'ir  Word  and  honor  that  he  should  not  be  disturbed  in 
the  least  if  he  would  only  return  and  persuade  the  eolort'd 


t  to  <ro  to  Kansas,  as  he  had  mure  infliieii 


('('  over 


jx'ople  no 

them  than  any  other  man.  He  assured  him  so  contidenlly 
that  he  concluded  to  trust  them,  and  returned  to  the  bosom 
of  his  lamily  on  Saturday;  but  before  Monday  morning  he 
was  shot  death     The  heart-remling  scene  can  better  be  im- 


aLHIUM 


I  tl 


lan  (lescri 


bed. 


Said  one  intelligent  man,  "We  can  do  nothing  to  pro- 
tect the  virtue  of  our  wives  and  daughters.  Near  (Ireeii- 
ville,  Mississippi,  a  colored  woman  was  passing  throiigii  a 
little  skii't  of  woods,  wiien  she  was  attacked  by  two  white 
men,  who  violateil  her  person;  then,  to  pn  vent  ixposure, 
thev  nuirdered  her  in  tlx^  mo-t  .-avagc  .   wvkw     Thev  tied 

42 


f|?^ 


;.'  1 


'n 


498 


A  woman's  life-work. 


f  Jf 


fh:' 


f  ■ 
•I' 

i 


.■  t 


I'    i 
l/'i 


*  t. 


M 


i 


her  clothes  over  her  head  Jiiid  liani,fc(l  her  by  lier  waistc  to 
a  liickory  saplinj^,  and  ripjicd  oju'ii  her  bowels  until  u  babe, 
tliat  would  within  a  few  weeks  have  oeeui)ied  its  jjlaee  in 
its  mother's  anus,  fell  to  the  ground.  Just  at  that  junct- 
ure two  colored  men  came  in  sight,  and  the  white  men 
dodged  into  the  wo(xls.  This  drew  attention  to  the  awful 
scene  of  the  dying  woman  weltering  in  her  gore.  They 
hastened  to  cut  her  down,  and  just  as  she  was  breathing 
her  last  she  whispered,  "Tell  my  husband."  One  watched 
the  corpse  while  the  other  went  to  inform  the  husband. 
This  barbarous  murder,  which  took  place  in  Ai)ril,  1879, 
was  twice  related  to  me  in  the  same  wav  bv  dilferent 
Women  from  the  same  neighborhood,  w'ho  attended  the 
funeral.  As  I  related  this  to  our  friend,  W.  Armour  and 
wife,  of  Kansas  City,  he  remarked  that  the  same  incident 
had  been  told  to  him  by  some  of  the  new  arrivals.  We 
rei)eat,  Who  can  wonder  at  thieir  flight? 

On  July  12tli  and  13th  two  boat-loads  more  of  refu- 
gees, numbering  four  hundred  persons,  landed  in  lower  Kan- 
.sas  City.  I  heard  it  again  repeated,  "What  shall  we  do? 
Here  in  Topeka  are  two  hundred  poor  people  waiting  to 
go  somewhere  to  get  work,  and  only  two  hundred  dollars 
in  our  treasury!"  What  shall  wc  send  them?  More  than 
fifty  men  and  women  were  then  out  hunting  work  ;  many 
found  it  and  rented  cabins.  We  waited  for  a  reply  from 
the  railroad  authorities,  to  see  if  they  would  take  two  hun- 
dred passengers  for  that  money  to  Colorado. 

This  association  met  and  reached  the  conclusion  to  tel- 
egrapli  Mr.  W.  Armour  and  his  co-laborers,  at  Kansas 
City,  to  send  the  four  hundred  at  that  place  to  other  points, 
as  it  Avas  impossible  to  receive  them  in  Topeka  until  those 
already  there  were  furnished  with  homes,  or  more  money 
should  come  to  our  aid.  I  returned  to  Kansas  City,  and 
found  tiieir  hands  and  hearts  full  also,  and  heard  the  (piery 
repeated,  "What  are  we  to  do  for  these  poor  people?  Wc 
can  not  send  them  back,  and  they  mud  ])e  fed  until  we 


KANSAS   OVER-FULL 


499 


er  wai?tc  to 
ntil  II  babe, 
its  \)lace  in 
that  junct- 
whitc  men 
()  ihc  a\vt'ul 
^orc.     They 
IS  breathing 
;)ne  ^vatched 
lie  husband. 
April,  1879, 
by  diil'ereut 
ittended   the 
Armour  and 
lunc  incident 
L-rivals.     Wc 

lore  of  refu- 
11  k)Nver  Kan- 
shall  \\c  do? 
lo  wiiitinp;  to 
idivd  dollars 
More  than 
work;  many 
u  reply  from 
ike  two  hun- 

l-lusion  to  tel- 
11 1   Kansas 
I  other  points, 
la  until  those 
inore  money 
ras  City,  and 
ird  the  (piery 
[people?    Wc 
Ifcd  until  we 


licar  from  places  to  which  wc  have  telegraphed."  Favor- 
able replies  came  for  seventy-five  families  to  Colorado.  The 
colored  minister,  Elder  Watson,  was  to  take  thciu  away, 
und  visited  tSt.  Louis  to  re(iuest  the  friends  in  tiiat  city  to 
send  no  more  in  this  direction  for  the  i)reseiit. 

A  white  woman  called  to  sec  some  of  thes(>  poor  })eople, 
and  brought  chicken  broth  for  a  verv  sick  man.  She  .said 
she  wna  born  in  Virginia,  raised  in  (Jeorgia,  where  she  had 
taught  school,  and  also  taught  in  Mi.^sissippi  and  Alal)ama. 
liecau.se  she  contended  for  the  right.s  of  the  colored  peo- 
jde,  as  they  were  free,  she  was  ostracised  and  compelled 
to  leave  the  South.  8aid  .she,  "I  have  seen  them  hung 
and  shot  like  dogs.  They  can  not  tell  you  the  half  of 
what  thev  suffer.     I  know  it,  for  I  have  !<een  it." 

While  I  was  still  visiting  among  these  j)e(»ple,  the 
steamer  Fann'ie  Loois  landed  with  one  hundred  and  four 
more  refugees  from  iNIissi.ssippi.  Here  they  had  nothing  f^r 
their  covering  except  the  ojjen  sky.  We  fl'ared  that,  un- 
less other  States  should  rally  to  the  rescue,  nothing  but 
.'suffering  and  death  would  be  before  them.  Kansas  had 
domiciled  about  what  she  could  for  the  present,  unless 
further  aid  should  be  given  from  without.  Tliis  State  had 
hardly  recovered  from  the  sweeping  devastation  of  war 
when  drought  swept  over  her  rich  prairies,  jind  scarcely 
had  she  recovered  from  that  drawback  when  the  grasshop- 
pers came  and  di'solated  her  again.  Then  the  Macedonian 
cry,  "Com(!  over  and  help  us,"  was  heard  and  answered. 
Again  we  raise  this  cry  in  behalf  of  this  oppri'ssed  peo})le, 
and  it  will  meet  a  generous  response. 

When  forty  thousand  dependents  were  thrown  into 
young  Kansas  by  Price's  raid  through  Missouri,  followed 
l)y  (yohtnels  Jan\es  Lane  and  Jennison,  I  received  from 
General  Curtis  the  report  that  twenty  thousand  pour  whites 
and  as  many  freedmen  were  here  to  l)e  eared  for  by 
goverinnent  and  the  benevolence  of  the  North.  At  that 
time  of  sore  need  Miidiigan  |»laeed  in  my  hamh  two  thou 


m 


'i-  :'■. 

y  ■ 

[if '   ' ' 

f  ■:! 


't,. 


*V' 


.  i: 


! 

m 


|j ! 


ii#: 


I -lit' 


lif 


li' 


ii' 


500 


A    woman's   LIFP>WOIlK. 


pand  six  liuiidred  ddllars  in  money,  and  from  seven  thou- 
sand U)  v\<s\\i  tliousaiid  dollars  in  siip])li('S  to  relieve  the 
j)erisliing  and  dyinj^  ol"  that  day.  The  lesson  is  not  forgot- 
ten, that  it  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  reeeive.  He 
alone  who  knows  the  end  from  the  beginning  ean  tell  the 
future  of  our  country,  and  of  the  five  million  of  its  inhab- 
itants of  Ai'riean  descent.  Yet  eternal  right  must  and  will 
triumph.  Tiie  debt  our  nation  owes  to  the  ex-slave  should 
be  paid.  The  hundred  thousand  colored  soldiers  Avho 
fought  as  bravely  to  save  our  nation's  life  as  did  their 
j>aler-faced  brethren,  and  faced  the  cannon's  mouth  as  fear- 
lessly for  the  prize  above  all  i)rice — libcrfi/ — are  worthy  of 
consideration.  They  were  ever  true  to  our  soldiers.  ^Nlany 
of  our  prisoners  escaping  from  rebel  dungeons  were  piloted 
by  them  into  our  lines.  ^Many  black  "aunties"  took  their 
last  chicken  and  made  broth  for  our  sick  Union  soldiers, 
as  did  the  one  I  met  in  Natchez,  ^Iississip])i.  She  had 
been  free  a  number  of  years,  and  had  her  yard  full  of 
geese,  ducks,  and  chickens;  but  all  went  for  Union  sol- 
diers. She  was  a  nol)le  Christian  woman.  She  said,  "I 
feels  so  sorry  for  a  sick  soldier,  so  far  from  their  home. 
1  feels  haj^py  f  )r  all  I  kin  do  for  'em.  I  knows  Jesus  pay 
me."  AnothiH'  (>olored  woinan  whom  I  met  at  Crloucester 
Court-house,  in  Virginia,  did  the  same. 

An  ex-soldier  wrote  in  a  note,  found  in  a  box  of  val- 
uable clothing  sent  to  the  refugees  in  Kansas:  "I  send  this 
as  a  small  token  of  the  gratitude  I  owe  to  the  colored  peo- 
ple for  saving  my  life  when  T  was  sick  and  es('ai>ing  from 
u  loathsome  rebel  prison.  They  took  care  of  me  and  con- 
ducted me  safely  to  our  Union  camp.  This  goes  with  a 
j)raver  that  God  will  bless  that  suffering  people." 

AVe  have  the  testimony  of  many  witu'sses.  Among 
them  is  J.  C.  ITartzell,  D.  D.,  of  New  Orleiuis,  editor  of  the 
Smith x'rafry II  (^hr'tM'xtu  .[(Ivncati'.  lie  says,  " TIh^  cruelties 
endured  by  llie  colored  people  of  the  South  c(ni  not  he 
ovenlnnni."     lie  knew  of  a   nuud)er  of  families  that  took 


ven  thou- 
A'wxi!  ilu' 
ot  forgot- 
ivc.  Pic 
I  tell  tlio 
its  inluil)- 
t  and  will 
ve  should 
liiM's  who 
did  their 
h  as  fcar- 
A'ortliv  of 
•s.  Many- 
re  piloted 
took  their 
1  soldiers, 
She  had 
^d  full  of 
^iiion  sol- 
said,  "I 
ir  home. 
iTisiis  pay 
Irloueester 

[x  of  val- 
Isend  this 
lored  peo- 
ling  from 
I  and  eon- 
Is  with  a 

Among 
|(>r  of  the 
lernelties 
III    ixif   ho, 

lat  took 


PROTECTION    NEKDED. 


501 


homesteads  on  government  lands  and  were  doing  ^Toll  for 
themselves,  but  masked  "Bourbons"  went  in  a  company 
and  drove  them  off,  telling  them  they  "  had  no  business 
with  homes  of  their  own.  The  plantation  was  their  ])lace, 
and  there  they  should  go."  One  man  undertook  to  defend 
himself  and  family  with  his  gun,  but  receiving  a  serious 
Avound  from  one  of  the  Bourbons,  he  hid  from  his  pursu- 
ers. One  of  his  white  friends  heard  of  what  had  befallen 
him,  and  took  him  to  New  Orleans  for  safety,  as  he  knew 
him  to  be  an  industrious  and  peaceable  man.  Here  he 
employed  a  skillful  surgeon  to  treat  Jiim.  Our  informant 
saw  the  bullet  taken  from  his  bodv,  and  thought  his  life 
could  be  saved.  But  he  is  sure  to  lose  it  if  he  returns  to 
his  own  home.  Rev.  J.  C.  Ilartzell  said  he  had  received 
letters  from  various  places  all  over  the  South,  written  by 
intelligent  colored  ministers,  that  their  Churches  were 
closed  against  them  until  after  election.  The  same  thing 
was  told  me  l)v  nianv  of  those  I  interviewed. 

The  Bourbons  said  their  meetings  were  the  hot-beds  of 
emigration  and  liepublicanism.  In  some  places  they  were 
forbidd(^n  to  meet  in  their  private  houses  for  prayer-metit- 
ings,  as  their  enemies  said  they  met  to  make  plans  to  go 
to  Kansas.  Is  there  no  guarantee  for  life,  liberty,  and  the 
pursuit  of  happiness?  What  a  state  of  society  is  this  for  a 
free  country?  Our  fii'st  duty  as  a  government  is  protec- 
tion. But  if  it  is  too  weak  for  that,  the  .second  duty  is  to 
welcome  the  fleeing  refugee  and  point  him  to  work,  or  t<,» 
the  thousands  of  acres  of  good  government  land,  and  help 
him  where  lui  needs  hel})  to  keep  body  and  soul  together 
(luring  the  few  months  it  may  require  to  make  himst'lf 
selfsustaining. 

From  Daniel  Votaw's  report  from  Iudej)endence,  Kan- 
sas, I  extract  the  following:  "Thomas  Bell,  of  Dallas 
County,  Texas,  was  hanged  about  October  r)th  for  attemj)t- 
ing  to  go  with  his  family  and  a  few  neighbors  to  Kansas. 
Blood  and  rapine  mark  the  fugitive.     After  sup|xu',  from 


11 


'I'm 


if; 

ill 


)! 
1^ 


r  a 


M^ 


■■•iy  . 


.r: 


11     ''5/ 


•  « 


.i^, 


!  ^ 


!l5 


[ll 

'  '  ^- 

i 

!  *' 

\  n^ . 

.]■ 

ill ' 

r  ) 

IL.. 

502 


A  woman's  life-work. 


meal  furnished  them  for  this  iiurposc,  they  gave  us  a  his- 
tory of  their  trials  in  Texas,  whicli  was  truly  sorrowful ; 
and  with  the  notes,  mortgages,  and  credits  given — to  the 
whole  amount,  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars — for 
their  farms,  they  were  com})elled  to  leave  and  flee  for  their 
lives,  as  David  did  before  Saul." 

Shot-gun  rule  still  continued.  Philip  Fauber,  recently 
from  near  Baton  Rouge,  Louisiana,  testifies  as  follows:  "I 
rented  land  of  Bragg  and  James  ^IcXealy,  and  was  to  have 
one-third  of  the  crop  and  furnish  team  and  seed.  I  took 
three  bales  of  cotton  J.o  the  weigher,  who  read  my  contract, 
and  set  aside  one  bale  for  me.  But  the  McNealys  claimed 
tlic  three  bales,  and  I  referred  the  matter  to  the  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  who,  after  reading  the  contract,  sanctioned 
the  decision  of  the  weigher.  But  the  McNealys  brought 
another  oflicer,  who  asked  to  sec  the  contract.  I  handed 
hi  1  the  paper,  which  he  read  and  tore  up  and  threw 
away,  and  INIcNcaly  took  possession  of  tlie  last  bale  of  cot- 
ton, which  I  told  them  was  my  only  dependence  for  my 
family's  suj)p()rt  for  the  Winter.  On  my  way  home  through 
a  little  woods  I  received  the  contents  of  a  shot-gun  in  my 
face,  both  eyes  being  put  out.  In  great  distress  I  felt  my 
way  home.  The  doctor  took  a  number  of  shot  out  of  my 
face,  but  he  could  n't  put  my  eyes  back.  I  can  now  do 
nothing  but  depend  upon  others  to  feed  and  clothe  me  till 
God  takes  me  from  this  dark  world  to  that  glorious  world 
of  light  and  peace.  The  old  man,  INIcXealy  denied  shoot- 
ing me,  but  he  never  said  he  did  not  know  who  did.  But 
he  and  his  two  sons  died  within  a  few  months  after  I  was 
shot.  In  the  last  sickness  of  Bragg  McNealy  he  sent  for 
me  to  tell  me  for  the  last  time  that  he  did  not  shoot  me. 
Still  he  would  not  tell  who  did."  The  industrious  wife  of 
this  poor  man  whose  face  is  speckled  with  shot  scars,  is 
anxious  to  get  four  or  five  acres  of  land  to  work  herself, 
and  su])port  herself  and  blind  husl)and. 

A.    A.   Lacv,  an   intelligent  colored   man   from   New 


3  US  a  his- 
sorrowful ; 
ni — to  the 
ollar.s— for 
2e  for  their 

jr,  recently 
follows:  "I 
,vas  to  have 
id.     I  took 
ly  contract, 
ilys  churned 
the  Justice 
,  sanctioned 
lys  brought 
.     I  handed 
und    threw 
bale  of  cot- 
nee  for  my 
lue  through 
gun  in  my 
ss  I  felt  my 
t  out  of  my 
can  now  do 
)the  me  till 
)rious  world 
enied  shoot- 
o  did.     But 
after  I  was 
he  sent  for 
)t  shoot  me. 
ions  wife  of 
lot  scars,  is 
[ork  herself, 

from   New 


MICIIAKT.    WALSH. 


503 


Orleans,  who  came  to  us  indorsed  by  a  nund)er  of  others 
from  tlie  same  city,  testifies  to  tlie  fuels  rohited  by  him  as 
follows:    "  INIiiy  5,   1,S8(),  I  called  at  the  custom-house  to 
report  for  duty  to  General  A.  S.  lindger,  collector  of  cus- 
toms, by  whom  I  had  been  employed.      lie  directed  me  to 
Captain  L.   E.  Salles,  the  chief  weigher,  to  whom  I  had 
rei)orted  a  number  of  days,  but  failed  to  get  work,  and  as 
I  failed  this  time  I  asked  if  I  had  better  continue  calling 
for  work.     He  rej)lied,  'You  had  better  call  again.'     As 
I  was  passing  out  of  the  door  his  j)artiier,  Michael  Walsh, 
came  to  me  (in  a  grufl',  comnumdiug  tone),  'What  is  that 
you  say.  Lacy?'      'Nothing   to   yon,'   I  replied;  'I   was 
speaking  to  ('ai)tain  Ralles.'     At  this  he  gave  a  stab,  and 
as  I  turned  to  see  what  he  was  hitting  me  for,  he  addeil 
two  stabs  more  with  cursing.     As  I  was  going  down  the 
steps  I  lelt  the  warm  blood  rinming  down   my   side,  not 
yet  realizing  that  I  had  been  cut.     I  opened  my  vest  and 
saw   the  flowing   blood.     I  stepped   into  ^Ir.  Blanchard's 
office,  the  assistant  weigher,  who  was  a  Kepublican,  and 
showed  him  my  side,  with  clothes   saturated    with    blond, 
lie  was  so  shocked  and  excited  that  \\v,  was  taken  ill  and 
(lied  in  just  two  weeks.     lie  advised  nu;  t(j  enter  a  com- 
l>]aint   against  Michael   Walsh,  which  I  did,  and  he  was 
placed  in  jail  in  default  of  thousand  dollar  bond.     I  was 
sent   to  the   hospital.     As  there   were   many   friends  and 
re})orters  calling  on  ine,  the  surgeon  forbade  callers  except 
immediate  attendants  and  my  wife.     lie  said  the  deei)est 
uound  reached  the  lei't  lung,  and   an   eighth  of  an   inch 
deepen'  would  have  produced  instant  death.     On  the  tenth 
day  I  was  allowed  to  be  removed  to  my  home,  and  pro- 
nounced to  be  convalescent.     ]Michael  Walsh  was  released 
from    prison    with    no   other   mark   of  disj)leasure   resting 
upon  him  for  this  attempt  at  murder  than  a  few  days' 
imprisonment.     As  soon  as   I  was  able  to  walk  about  I 
took  a  boat  with  friends  whose  lives  had  been  threatened 
for  Kansas,  where  we  arrived  July  15,  1880.     I  am  only 


504 


A  woman's  mfk-wouk. 


^  >:; 


..»'^i- 


U  ".   '    5 


'■    ■''! 


able  to  liglit  work,  for  which  I  am  thankful.  Yet  it  soonis 
hard  to  lose  all  this  time  from  the  assassin's  stab  in  a  cus- 
tom-house that  belongs  to  the  government  I  fought  two 
years  to  sustain." 

Uncle  Peter  Cox,  an  aged  man  of  eighty-eight  years, 
has  a  wen  on  the  back  of  his  neck,  running  between  his 
shoulders,  larger  than  a  two-quart  bowl,  that  has  been 
over  thirty  years  coming.  It  was  caused  l)y  heavy  lifting 
and  continued  hard  work  during  his  slave-life.  He  came 
t^  Toi)cka,  Kansas,  in  July,  1880,  with  his  aged  wife  and 
deaf  and  dumb  grandson  of  eighteen  years.  His  advanced 
age  and  deformity  induced  me  to  inquire  more  closely  into 
the  cause  of  leaving  his  State  (Louisiana).  After  giving 
the  sad  history  of  his  slave-life — the  common  lot  of  that 
class  of  goods  and  chattels  — he  said:  "Missus  1  stay'd  thar 
as  long  as  I  could,  when  I  seed  my  brodder  in  de  Lo'd 
hangin'  on  a  tree  not  more'n  a  hundred  rods  from  my 
house,  near  Baton  Rouge.  A  sistah  was  hanged  five  miles 
off,  on  de  plank  road,  in  West  Baton  Rouge,  in  a  little 
woods.  Her  sistah  followed  her  bcLrgiu'  for  her  life,  and 
tole  de  l)ulldosers  she  could  n't  tell  whai  her  husban'  was 
that  da's  gwine  to  hang.  But  da  swore  she  should  hang  if 
she  didn't  tell."  Giving  his  head  a  shake,  while  tears 
dropped  thick  and  fast  down  the  deeply  furrowed  cheeks, 
he  continued:  "O,  ^lissus,  I  couldn't  live  thar  no  longer. 
I's  so  distressed  day  an'  night.  De  chief  captain  of  dis 
ban'  of  murder's  was  Henry  Castle,  who  wid  his  ban'  of 
men  was  supported  by  j\[r.  Garrett,  iNIr.  Fisher,  an'  INIr. 
"Washington,  who  were  merchants  in  Baton  Rouge," 

But  that  poor  grandfather's  heart  was  filled  with  grief 
to  overflowing  when  the  faithful  grandson  was  walking 
alone  in  the  railroad  track,  and  was  run  over  by  the  cars 
and  instantly  killed.  Although  the  warning  whistle  was 
given  the  poor  deaf  boy  heard  it  not.  As  he  was  all  tlie 
aged  })air  had  to  depend  upon  f  )r  their  living,  it  was  to 
them  a  heavv  stroke.     No  one  can  look  over  these  tisli- 


SILVER    LININGS. 


505 


'^et  it  soonis 
il)  in  a  ciis- 
I'oiight   two 

iglit  years, 
etweeu  his 

lias  hcoii 
avy  lifting 

He  eame 
[1  wife  and 
■i  advanced 
'losely  into 
'tor  giving 
ot  of  that 
5tay'd  thar 
11  de  Lo'd 

from  my 

five  miles 
in  a  little 
■  life,  and 
ishan'  was 
d  hang  if 
hile  tears 
d  cheeks, 
lo  longer, 
tin  of  (lis 
?  ban'  of 

an'  Mr. 
e." 
'ith  grief 

walkinjr 

the  cars 
istle  was 
IS  all  tlie 
t  was  to 
ese  tvHil- 


monies  without  exclaiuung,  with  Davi(l,  -Is  there  not  a 
cause  for  the  flight  of  this  iK3rsccuted  j^ople?  Wc  find 
many  among  them,  like  Lazarus,  begging  for  the  crumbs 
that  fall  from  the  rich  man's  table;  but  let  us  uot  allow 
them  to  die  iu  this  laud  of  plenty. 

Yet,  through  all  these  dark  clouds,  we  perceive  the 
silver  hmugs.  The  heaven-born  cause  of  temperance  is 
gHiumg  a  foothold  in  our  Soutliern  States.  A  crusade 
against  the  liquor-traffic  commenced  in  Ohio,  and  has  swept 
over  Michig-an  and  other  neighboring  States,  and  k  still 
going  on  conquering  aiid  to  conquer. 

43 


)  !l 


50G 


A    WO.MAM\y   LirE-WOKK. 


r  * 


f 


';:♦';:: 


1 1^^- 1 


1  r  !   / 


i; 


V 

♦a 

:   t               ; 

^'ii-i^--:  f 


iiM 


ii' 


Chapter  XIX. 

PROSPECTS  OF  TIIK  FKEIODMEN. 

Our  last  chapter  contains  the  dark  side  of  our  picture. 
In  tliis  we  ])resent  the  brighter  prospects  for  a  long  and 
sorely  oppressed  race.  We  first  note  what  has  been  and 
is  being  done  for  the  fifty  thousand  who  have  emigrated 
to  Kansas.  As  I  have  l)eeu  a  co-laborer  with  Elizabeth 
L.  Conistock  more  than  two  years  in  rescuing  the  perishing 
in  their  new  homes,  I  speak  from  personal  knowledge. 

During  the  first  Winter — 1879-80 — as  mild  as  it  was, 
more  than  one  hundred  refugees  were  found  with  frozen  feet 
and  fingers.  Five  were  frozen  to  death  in  coming  througli 
the  Indian  Territory  with  their  teams.  Through  I'aithi'ul 
agents,  with  supplies  forwarded  from  other  States,  an<l  even 
from  friends  in  England  in  response  to  api)eals  sent  out  by 
Elizabeth  L.  Conistock,  very  many  sufferers  were  relieved. 
The  goods  from  England  were  forwarded  mostly  by  James 
Clark,  of  Street.  Over  seventy  thousand  dollars'  worth  of 
supplies  liavc  passed  through  my  hands  for  the  relief  of 
the  refugees  between  Septendu'r,  187U,  when  I  coinmenced 
working  for  them,  and  March,  1881.  Thirteen  thousand 
dollars  of  this  amount  came  from  England,  having  been 
sent  by  Friends  or  Quakers.  Besides  money,  we  received 
new  goods,  as  follows : 

Wanii,  new  blnnkets, 2,000 

New  ^'iunieiUs  for  women  and  jrirls, r),()()() 

New  ^runnents  for  men  and  l)oys .'{.OOO 

New  garments  for  bal)ies  and  small  children, 5, ")()(» 

New  knitted  socks  and  liose,  five  hundred  dozen  piiij's,  .  0,000 
Large  (luantitv  of  sheets,  pillow-cases,  bed-cjuilts,   t<^w- 

els,  etc.; ;],0t)0 

Ciueensware. — Six  large  crates,  one  hundred  and  nineteen 

dozen  plates  in  each, 8,508 


RELIKF   ASSOflATlOX.  507 

Cups  and  snuoors,  nearly (),fM)0 

Howls  ami  nine's, -1,(KI0 

IMattt'is,  pitclit'is,  aiitl  cliainbtT  waros, ;!,.')()() 

Scissors, (i,(KK) 

Sets  of  kiiivo.s  and  forks 4,(1(10 

Spoons, S,(i(H) 

Needles, l."»,(H>(» 

Knittin^jT-needles, L', .">()() 

I'>:i;;s  with  sewing'  materials, 2,.*'"'^ 

J'apeis  of  pins,  six  hundred  and  fifty  dozen,  and  tape,  ;>50,    ],(i()(> 

Tin-cnps  and  basins (l.OOl) 

I5e<l-tieks 1.5(10 

Wjish-dishea  and  ]>ans, 2.000 

Woolen  (h'esses  for  women  and  Kirls,  valued  ut Sl.ONO 

New  (jvereoats  for  men  and  hoyn,  valued  at stOoO 

Three  wiiole  bolts  of  Welch  flannel  (seventy-two  yards 

each), SlaO 

Two  bolts  heavy  broadel(»th,  for  overcoats,  valued  at  .    .     SI  14 

WonuMi's  cloaks  ami  shawls,  value<l  at S2,2")0 

New  red  flannel,  valued  at $ir)0 

Muslins,  valued  at Sb")0 

(iray  ilamiel  and  three  hundred  j'lairs  mittens,  valued  at  $")00 
JUittons,  hooks  and  eyes,  cotton  tliread,  silk,  etc.,  ....  :r.")(i() 
New  pieces  yoods,  chiefly  cotton,  valued  at S."),000 

Over  ninety  thousand  dollars  in  money  and  supplies 
were  distributed  by  the  Kan.sas  Relief  Association,  until  it 
was  disbanded  in  IMay,  1<S81,  and  its  liead-(jiiarters  removed 
to  Southern  Kan.sas,  where  thousands  of*  these  Sotithern 
emigrants  are  eongregated.  That  h)cality  is  more  f'avorabh^ 
to  cotton  raising.  Many  of  tlie  refugees  know  but  little  of 
other  busine.ss;  hence  the  necessity  for  an  agricultural, 
industrial,  and  educational  institute,  of  which  l^li/abeth  L, 
('omstock  is  the  founder.  At  the  present  date  (August, 
1881)  eight  thousand  dollars  arc  invested.  This  includes 
the.  Homestead  Fund.  To  meet  the  crying  need  of  this 
'people  she,  in  connection  with  her  daughtcM',  Caroline  I)e- 
(ireen,  are  untiring  in  their  cfTirts  to  establish  a  perma- 
nent or  systematized  W(trk.  Tliey  have  established  this 
much  needed  institution  on  four  hiindfed  acr(\s  of  good 
land,  which  is  tilled  by  colored  peoj)le,  ^lio  rec(Mve  pay  for 
their  work  in  provision,  clothing,  or  money  until  they  can 
purchase  cheap  land  for  their  own  homes. 

It  lias  been  no  small  task  to  disburse  wisely  the  large 


:<■  ;. 


i  y 


i  . 


: 

■i 

1    : 

:i. 

:-t 

;* 

[i: 

k- 

i 

■^     f 

! 

*  1 

508 


.,?,, 


A    WOMAN  S    IJFE-WOKK. 


supplies  sent  from  every  Northern  State  and  Enj^land  in 
various  portions  of  the  State  of  Kansas.  It  has  been  done 
through  the  instrumentality  of  stlf-isacrifieiMg  men  and 
women.  The  noble  women  of  Topcka  did  their  full  share. 
They  districted  the  city,  apiK)inted  a  large  investigating 
comnjittee,  and  gave  tickets  calling  for  the  articles  most 
needed  in  the  families  found  in  a  suffe  condition.     By 

this  plan  impositions  were  avoided. 

While  we  have  entered  hitter  complaints  against  our 
Southern  ex-slave  States,  we  ought  to  call  to  mind  many 
jwrseeutious  endured  by  the  opponents  of  slavery  in  our 
own  States  of  the  North.  I  have  still  in  remembrance  the 
many  mobs  to  which  abolitionists  were  exposed  for  discuss- 
ing their  views.  I  have  not  forgotten  the  burning  shame 
and  disgrace  ujX)U  our  whole  North  because  of  the  treat- 
ment it  allowed  to  an  earnest  Christian  philanthropist, 
Prudence  Crandall,  of  Windham  County,  Connecticut. 
She  opened  a  school  in  Canterbury  Green  for  girls,  and 
was  patronized  by  the  best  families,  not  'y  of  that  town, 
but  of  other  counties  and  States.    Amoi  >se  who  sought 

the  advantages  of  her  school  was  a  coiored  girl.  But 
Prudence  was  too  thorough  a  Quaker  to  regard  the  request 
of  bitter  prejudice  on  the  part  of  her  other  patrons  to  dis- 
miss her  colored  pupil.  But  she  did  not  wait  for  them  to 
execute  their  threat  to  withdraw  their  children.  She  sent 
them  home.  Then  she  advertised  her  school  as  a  boarding 
school  for  young  ladies  of  color. 

The  people  felt  insulted,  and  held  indignation  meetings 
and  appointed  committees  to  remonstrate  with  her.  But 
she  stood  by  her  principles  regardless  of  their  remonstrance. 
The  excitement  in  that  town  ran  high.  A  town  meeting 
was  called  to  devise  means  to  remove  the  nuisance.  In 
1833  Miss  Crandall  opened  her  school  against  the  protest 
of  an  indignant  populace.  Another  town  meeting  was 
called,  at  which  it  was  resolved,  "That  the  establishment 
of  a  rendezvous,  falsely  denominated  a  school,  was  designed 


ij,'Ian(l  ill 
)eeii  <l()i)o 
men  iiiul 
iill  share. 
L'stiguting 
ulcs  most 
ion.     By 

ainst  our 
nd  many 
y  in  our 
rancc  tlic 
r  discuss- 
ig  shame 
he  treat- 
ithropist, 
nccticut. 
iirls,  and 
at  town, 
sought 
,  But 
request 
to  dis- 
hem  to 
10  sent 
ioarding 

leetings 
But 
trance, 
neeting 
In 
protest 
ig  was 
;hment 
jsigned 


NORTH  KRS    OrTRA(!IvS. 


f)()!) 


hy  its  pnijt'ctors  as  (ho  thcator  to  proniul^fato  tlioir  disgust- 
ing theory  of  amalgamation  and  their  pornii-ious  stMitimcntM 
of  suhvorting  the  Tnion.  Thi-se  pupils  were  to  have  heen 
eongregated  here  from  all  (piarters  under  the  false  pretense 
of  eduealing  them,  hut  ri'ally  to  scatter  iire-hrands,  arrows, 
and  death  among  hrethren  of  our  own  l)loo<l." 

I  well  rememher  the  voice  of  more  than  seven  thousand, 
even  at  that  day,  who  had  never  bowed  the  knee  to  the 
Baal  of  slavery  that  was  raised  in  favor  of  the  course  pur- 
sued hy  the  noble  wonuin.  Against  one  of  th(>se  young  col- 
ored girls  the  jjooplo  were  about  to  enforce  an  old  vagrant 
law,  recjuiring  her  to  give  security  for  her  maintenaiu-e 
(m  penalty  of  being  whipped  on  the  naked  body.  Thus 
they  re<piired  her  to  return  to  her  home  in  I'rovideneo. 
Canterbury  did  its  best  to  drive  Prudence  from  her  j)()st. 
Her  neighbors  refused  to  give  her  fresh  water  from  their 
wells,  tliough  thev  knew  their  own  sons  had  filled  her  well 
with  stable  refuse.  Her  father  was  threatened  with  mob- 
violence.  An  appeal  was  sent  to  their  Legishiture,  and 
that  body  of  wise  men  devised  a  wicked  enactment  which 
they  railed  law,  which  was  brought  to  bear  upon  her  par- 
ents on  this  wise:  An  order  was  sent  to  her  father,  in  sub- 
stance, as  follows:  "^Ir.  Crandall,  if  you  go  to  visit  your 
daughter  you  are  to  be  fined  one  hundred  dollars  for  the 
first  offense,  two  hundred  dollars  for  the  second  oflense, 
doubling  the  amount  every  time.  Mrs.  Crandall,  if  you 
go  there  you  will  be  fined,  and  your  daughter,  Almira, 
will  be  fined,  and  ^Ir.  May,  and  those  gentlemen  from 
Pr(>vidence  [Messrs.  George  and  Henry  Benson],  if  they 
come  here,  will  be  fined  at  the  same  rate.  And  your 
daughter,  the  one  that  has  established  the  school  for  col- 
ored females,  will  be  taken  up  the  same  way  as  for  stealing 
n  horse  or  fi)r  burglary.  Her  property  will  not  be  taken, 
hut  she  will  be  put  in  jail,  not  having  the  liberty  of  the 
yard.     There  is  no  mercy  to  be  shown  about  it," 

Soon  after  this  ^liss  Cranilall  was  arrested  and   taken 


fwrP'" 

V  ^'^ 

-'■ 

I: 

n   '': 

...  *'^ 

15    -*■ 


ft 

lit 


l;f  , 


?-i 


f 


510 


A    WOMAN'S    MFK-WOKK. 


to  jail  for  an  alleged  ofTense.  Her  trial  resulted  in  an 
acfjiiittal,  hut  her  estahlis^hiiiciit  was  persecuted  hy  every 
eonceivahle  iusult.  She  and  her  school  were  shut  out  f'nun 
attendance  at  the  Congregational  Church,  and  religious 
services  held  in  her  own  house  were  interrupted  hy  volleys 
of  rotten  eggs  and  other  missiles.  At  length  the  house 
was  set  on  fire,  but  the  blaze  was  soon  extinguished. 

In  18.')4,  on  September  9th,  just  as  the  itimily  was 
retiring  for  the  night,  a  body  of  men  with  iron  bars  sur- 
rounded the  house,  and  .fimultaneously  beat  in  the  windows 
and  doors.  This  shameful  outrage  was  more  than  they 
could  endure.  Prudence  Crandall  was  drivi!.  at  last  to 
close  her  interesting  school  and  send  her  pupils  home. 
Then  another  town  meeting  was  held,  a  .sort  of  glorifica- 
tion, justifying  themselves,  and  praising  their  Legislature 
fi)r  passing  the  law  for  which  they  asked.  All  this  abom- 
inable outrage  I  well  remember,  and  am  glad  to  see  it 
called  up  in  Scrlbner\^  Marjuzine  for  December,  1880.  A 
scathing  denunciation  of  the  outrage  was  published  in  the 
Boston  Liberator,  edited  by  William  Idoyd  Garrison. 

Prudence  Crandall  did  more  for  the  cause  of  freedom 
by  her  persistence  in  the  "Higher  Law"  doctrine  of  eternal 
right  than  the  most  eloquent  antislavery  lecturer  could 
have  accomplished  in  molding  public  sentiment  of  the 
whole  North.  Her  name  l)ecame  a  household  word  in 
thousands  of  Northern  homes.  When  we  .«ee  the  chauires 
forty  and  fifty  years  have  wrought  in  the  North,  surely 
we  may  look  forward  in  strong  faith  for  like  changes  to 
take  place  over  the  South.  It  may  take  longer,  but  come 
it  will. 

We  note  with  pleasure  the  rapid  strides  of  education 
among  the  colored  j)eople  in  sixteen  years.  In  18(54-5  I 
visited  large  schools  in  slave-pens  that  had  become  useless 
for  tbiC  purposes  for  which  they  were  designed.  The  stumjis 
of  their  whipi)ing-posts  and  the  place  of  the  dreaded 
auction  block  was  vacated.     Although  many  <»f  their  public 


COLORED   SCHOOLS. 


•  11 


schools  are  not  all  that  could  ho  desired,  yet  they  have  thoni, 
and  ihcy  arc  doini^  a  good  work.  In  Virginia,  beginning 
with  l'*S71,  tiie  colored  children  enrolled  i'or  successive  vears 


nuinhered 


as 


foil 


ows:   ;J<S,5r)4;   4().7o(>;   4!M09;   54,1)45 


()2,17<S;  05, 04');  01,772;  and  ')5,7()8.  In  South  Carolina 
the  enrollment  troiu  1870  was,  15,894;  .^8,(505  ;  4(),5;>5  ; 
50,249;  03,415;  70,802;  55,952;  02.120;  and  04,095. 
In  Mississii)j)i,  beginning  with  1875,  the  enrollment  was 
89,813;  90,178;  104,777;  and  111,790.  At  the  present 
we  foot  up  the  astonishing  num1)er  of  738,104  i)ui)ils. 
Maryland  has  appi'opriated  two  thousand  dollars  per  annum 
for  the  support  of  normal  schools  for  the  training  of  col- 
ored teachers.  An  e.\-Confederate  and  ex-slavo-holder  of 
high  degree  subscribed  live  thou.s-iid  dollars  toward  a  ct»l- 
lege  for  colored  people  under  the  pationage  of  one  of  the 
colored  Churches  in  the  State;  of  (Jeorgia.  All  honor  is  due 
such  noble  deeds.  May  there  be  more  to  follow  his  gtmil 
example. 

From  the  best  autliorities  we  have  the  figures  of  over 
a  million  communicants  among  the  colored  peo[)le  in  the 
United  States.  Of  those  in  the  Southern  States  we  have 
as  follows,  at  this  date,  1881: 

African  MctJKxlists 2M,S0S 

Methodist   Kpiscopa)  riunch  (Colored),  .  ITJ.OOO 

Colored  Baptist  Clinrcl .^)00,0(M) 

Mt'thodist  Kpiscopal  Zion  Church,  ....  l!i(),()()() 

Methoilist  Ei)iscopal  Church, ;]00,000 

Almost  every  Church  in  the  North  has  contributedi  to 
educational  purjvises  in  the  South,  but  they  are  doing  none 
too  much.     The  Friends  have  done  much  toward  support- 


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of  Lida  Clark,  an  untiring  worker  for  that  peo|)le.  But 
we  have  not  the  figures  of  amounts.  Rut  the  Metliodist 
K[)iscopal  Church  has  done,  and  is  still  doing,  a  great  work, 
as  our  figures  will  show,  in  i)uilding  commodious  school- 
bouses  in  various  States. 


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Schools  of  tlio  Froodmcn's  Aid  iSocioty  of  the  Methodist 
Kpi^cojKil  Church  for  18.S0-81  : 

CIIAIlTKKKt)   INSTirrTIONS. 

rontrnl  Tonnossoo  CoUoko,  Nashville,  Tcnn., 

Clark  University,  Atlanta,  (ia., 

Clathu  University,  Oianj^elmrir,  S.  ('.,  .  .  . 
New  Orleans  University,  New  Orleans,  La,, 
Shaw  University,  Holly  SiirinLrs,  Miss.,  .  . 
Wiley  University,  -Marsliall,  Texas,    .... 

Tin:oi,OGIC.\L  SCHOOLS. 

Ontenary  Bihiical  Institnte,  Baltimore,  Md, 
■•'Baker  Institnte,  Oran,t:el)nrL',  S.  C,  .... 
^Thomson  Biblical  Institnte,  N.  Orleans,  La,, 

MKDICAI,   (OI.I.KCiE. 

Mehary  Medical  College,  Nasliville,  Tenn.,  . 

INSTITITIONS    NOT    ClI  A  lllKinCI). 

P.ennett  Seminary,  <  Jreenslmro,  N.  C,  .  .  . 
Cdokman  Institnte,  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  ,  .  . 
fiaven  Normal  School,  Waynesl)()ro,  (ia.,  . 
La(iran;4e  Seminary,  La  (irange,  (ia.,  .  .  . 
.Meridian  Academy,  Meridian,  Miss.,  .  .  . 
Bnst  Normal  School,  Unntsville,  Ala.,  .  .  . 
Walden  SL-minary,  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  .  .  . 
Weht  Texas  Conf.  Seminal y,  Anstin,  Tex., 
La  Ti'che  Scnnnary,  La  Teche,  La.,  .... 
West  Tennes.scc  Seminary,  Mason,  Tenn.,  . 

Wo  must  here  put  in  our  claim  for  tlie  fift ,  thousand 
eini^rants  in  Kansas  from  the  South.  The  Frecdmcu's 
llelief  work  in  Kansa.s  lias  been  thorouj^hly  organized  and 
ofHcered,  and  (he  coiitrihutions  received  for  the  refuirces 
judiciously  distrihutcMl.  An  nfrriciiltural  and  industrial 
school  was  established  some  time  airo,  and  is  meetinir,  so 
iiir,  with  <roo(l  success.  It  will,  if  jirojierly  sustained,  j)rove 
to  be  a  blessint^  not  only  to  the  colored  race,  but  to  the 
State.  From  a  circular  issued  in  June  last,  by  Fili/abeth 
\j.  Comstock,  one  (»f  the  superintendents  of  this  work,  [ 
extract  the  following  jiaragraidis: 

"Our  first  object  is  to  employ  those  who  come  for  work 


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MEHARRV   MEDICAL  COLLEGE,   NASHVILLE,  TENN. 


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INDUSTRIAL    INSTITITTE. 


513 


or  for  aid.  We  are  strongly  advised  by  their  best  friends, 
and  the  kind  donors  both  sides  tlie  Atlantic,  not  to  give 
any  thing  (except  in  return  for  labor)  to  those  who  are 
able  to  work,  especially  during  the  warm  weather.  Wages 
are  paid  ntgulurly  every  Saturday,  and  they  come  with 
their  money  to  buy  and  select  from  the  stock  on  hand 
what  will  suit  themselves.  Second-hand  clothing  and  bed- 
ding have  a  price  affixed  almost  nominal.  Coats,  10  cents 
each  to  $1,  very  few  at  $1;  pants,  drawers,  shirts,  and 
vests,  5  cents  each;  shoes,  5  cents  a  pair;  stockings  and 
socks,  two  pairs  for  5  cents;  women's  dresses,  10,  20,  30, 
and  40  cents  each;  children's  clothes,  5  to  10  cents  a  gar- 
ment; bed-quilts,  comforters,  and  blankets,  20  to  50  cents; 
new  ones,  61  each,  if  very  good.  New  shoes  and  other 
articles,  provisions,  etc.,  that  we  have  to  purchase  we  buy 
at  wholesale,  and  try  to  supply  them  below  the  market 
price,  S(mie  of  them  at  half  the  retail  price.  Thus  what 
little  is  gained  on  the  old  clothes  makes  up  in  part  what 
we  lose  on  the  new.  We  could  employ  more  laborers  if  wc 
had  more  money.  The  state  of  the  treasury  is  low  now. 
It  seems  hard  to  turn  away  any  poor  people  who  want  to 
work.  We  should  be  very  glad  of  help  just  now  in  the 
M'ay  of  seed  for  sowing,  money  to  provide  food  and  sh(l((>r, 
and  to  finish  up  our  buihlings.  Wc  greatly  desire  to  start 
several  industries  before  Winter,  as  blacksmith's  shoj), 
carpenter's  shop,  broom  factory,  etc.,  etc.,  that  they  may 
have  work  during  the  cold  weather.  We  hope  to  have 
our  school-house  soon  ready  and  to  educate  the  children, 
and  have  an  evening  school  for  adults. 

"An  important  part  of  our  work  will  be  to  train  the 
Avomen  and  girls  in  the  various  branches  of  household 
work,  and  sewing,  knitting,  etc.  Nor  do  we  lose  sight  of 
the  si)iritual  garden  while  providing  for  the  intellectual 
fields  and  the  physical  wants.  We  greatly  desire  that  this 
long-oppressed  race,  who  have  been  kept  in  darkness  and 
ignorance,  should  have  the  light  of  the  glorious  (iiosi)el, 


514 


A    woman's    J.IFJMVOriK. 


ill '    « 


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,    ! 


'  i; 


and  should  have  the  Bible  put  into  tlicir  liands,  and  1)6 
taught  to  read  and  understand  it.  Of  course  we  meet  ^\  ith 
some  opposition  in  our  "work,  lu  nuiny  a  brave  soldier  has 
done  before  us,  in  battling  for  the  right  and  for  the  col- 
ored race." 

We  extract  au  item  from  the  Columbus  Courier  (Kan- 
sas) :  "We  are  proud  of  the  work  of  the  'Agricultural, 
Industrial,  and  Educational  Institute,'  and  earnestly  desire 
its  success,  and  Ave  feel  ])roud  of  these  good  men  and 
Avomen  who  are  led  on  by 'Mrs.  Elizabeth  L.  Comstock  at 
their  head,  and  I\rrs.  Laura  S.  Ilaviland,  their  secretary. 
Characteristic  spirits  of  the  broad  i)hilanthropy  of  our 
beloved  land,  they  need  no  commendation  to  sustain  them. 
This  has  been  their  life-work,  and  they  now  select  our 
State  for  their  field  of  labor.  J.  E.  Pickering  was  chosen 
from  a  body  of  eighteen  directors  as  its  president,  because 
of  his  experience  in  this  kind  of  work,  having  at  one  time 
been  a  conductor  on  the  'Under  Ground.'  He  docs  not 
receive  or  ask  for  salary.  He  only  presides  at  meetings 
of  the  Board  of  Directors,  and  has  general  oversight  of  the 
work  in  progress.  His  son,  Liudly,  was  selected  by  the 
Board  according  to  the  expressed  wish  of  ]\rrs.  Comstock 
as  superintendent.  His  wife  is  acting  in  the  capacity  of 
matron,  l)ut  neither  of  them  receives  a  salary,  and  they 
arc  to  be  paid  by  some  friends  of  the  work  when  it  is 
established.  But  now  pay  is  a  matter  of  no  consideration. 
(Charity  does  not  require  that  these  })eople  should  leave 
their  comfortable  homes  and  devote  their  tiine  and  energies 
to  the  laborious  duties  of  their  positions  without  some 
reward.  Fortv  acres  of  the  four  hundred  U])on  which  tlie 
institute  is  located  was  ])urchas('d  of  Liudly  ^l.  Pickering, 
at  one  hundred  dollars  less  than  he  could  otherwise  have 
obtained  for  it.  It  was  selected  for  its  im])rovenicuts  and 
its  fine  location,  unsuri)assed  in  tbe  country.  In  conclu- 
sion, Ave  desire  to  refer  to  the  good  management  with 
which  without  ostentation  its  atUiirs  are  vigorously  pushed 


"M 


IXDUSTUI A h   IN.STITUTF. 


015 


forward,  loiicvln<j^  tliat  tlio  over-living,  ovor-aggrcssivo 
principle  of  rigiit  will  sustain  tlicni  and  secure  the  success 
which  so  coninicndahle  an  enterprise  <leserves.  May  heaven 
l)rosper  the  work  of  the  nation's  truest  spirits  and  hest  and 
most  res})ccted  eiti/:i:i.s!" 

From  the  financial  statement  from  Ajml  15th  to  Juno 
18,  1881,  we  find  that  there  has  been  received  for  this 
industrial  uistituto,  in  cash,  $0,031.90.  Two  largo  consign- 
ments of  goods  were  received  about  the  last  date  at  Co- 
lumbus by  Elizabeth  L.  Coinstock  for  the  same  object. 
Wo  appeal  to  thj;  Christian  i)ublic  to  give  us  at  least  one 
school  in  Kansas  for  the  refugees. 

"Sow  thy  seed  in  the  morning,  and  in  the  evening 
withhold  not  thy  hand,  for  thou  knowest  not  whether  this 
or  that  will  i)rosper." 

"8uwin<,'  the  seed  witli  an  acliiii;,'  lieart 
Sowin-,'  the  .seeil  while  the  teur-droiis  start, 
Sowing  in  liopo  till  the  reapers  come, 
CJladly  to  wcUmjihc  the  harvest  liomo. 
O  what  shall  the  harvest  be  ?" 


TIIK  END, 


